Residents of Geriley, in Wajir, will for the first time in almost 30 years access clean and reliable water supply following the launch of a community borehole commissioned under the UK’s Integrated Security Fund.
In a region that has long been afflicted by drought, the only source of water they had was a water pan, which the people and livestock used to share.
The residents can now sigh with relief following the unveiling of the borehole by the UK in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration during a colourful ceremony attended by officials from the county and national governments and local residents.
The project which was delivered through the UK-funded Deris Wanaag programme, will benefit approximately 3,500 households and over 20,000 livestock, who have had to trek for long distances in search of water.
Wajir MP Mohammed Adow says the borehole is a whole water works project that could not have come at a better time as it was established in the middle of the drought and the holy month of Ramadhan, when locals were fasting and not having water would have been a torment.
“Gerille, Wajir South has finally received a new borehole, a milestone achieved through the efforts of my office in partnership with Raia Development Initiative under the Deris Wanaag Project supported by the British Government. After several past challenges, this long-awaited dream is now a reality, bringing clean and reliable water closer to every household in Geriley,” he says.
Mr Adow says without water, the people would have been looking at a generation of poverty after losing their livestock which is the mainstay of North Eastern residents.
“Livestock is the wealth of the people of this part of the country. Until we start looking at livestock as a national treasure only then will we see it as a national treasure,” he says.
The MP says the borehole is a life changing project, and Geriley residents feel empowered.
“When people get water, they get dignity and good health, they end the torment of looking for water,” he says.
Mr Adow is happy that today, it is not just the residents of Geriley who are benefiting from the borehole; people are coming from as far as the hinterland of southern Somalia and the lower Juba areas.
He says the borehole will go a long way in ensuring peace, especially in the borderlands.
“Our people are ready and willing to share whatever little resources they have and especially these border areas where there is a lot of insecurity. When they share resources, then total peace can be achieved in these areas,” he says.
“Nothing represents good neighbourliness than when people share resources,” he adds.
The MP says due to the biting drought in the region, in the short-term, they have been taking water to people using trucks but it’s very expensive due to the cost of fuel.
“Tracking water to the people takes days,” he says.
He reveals that in the long term they are looking at projects like the borehole to ensure ease for the people
“The borehole is a whole water works project going all the way to the town,” he says.
“Words cannot describe how grateful and overjoyed I am today. I thank the British High Commission for this water works that will see the people of Geriley access water,” he says
Everything points to efforts to ensure stability in Northern Kenya, with the scarcity of water and pasture sparking conflict in the region. More water sources mean that the situation can be neutralised, as communities reduce the need for competition.
Deris Wanaag, meaning ‘good neighbourliness’ in Somali, acknowledges hat enhancing peace and stability, and improving social and economic conditions, can only be achieved through increasing collaboration between the three countries, respective local administrations, and between local communities in the borderlands.
The flagship initiative is aimed at enhancing peace and security in the Kenya–Somalia–Ethiopia borderlands.
According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the project focuses on strengthening the effectiveness of national responses to insecurity along the border, supporting local conflict resolution and management structures, and building individual and community resilience to the influence of violent extremist actors. Recognising the transnational nature of insecurity, the project supports ongoing coordination mechanisms between Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, situating itself within regional developments and their impact at local level.
RUSI says gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is integrated across all project engagements, tailored to accommodate the imbalance of GESI considerations in the border areas, as well as through deliberate interventions founded in an understanding of which individuals and groups are more vulnerable and disproportionately impacted by conflict.
RUSI points out that one of the project’s three objectives is to improve prevailing understanding of how conflict and violent actor dynamics and structures across the borderlands can inform effective policy and programming. To deliver on this objective, RUSI conducts regular context analysis, leads discrete research studies, produces policy briefs and holds learning events to inform government policy and to shape the geographic and thematic prioritisation of project interventions.
The borehole is expected to reduce reliance on unsafe cross-border water sources, ease the burden on women and pastoralists, mitigate resource-based tensions and address vulnerabilities often exploited by extremist groups.
The programme aims to integrate infrastructure development while preventing conflict by reducing tensions that can be portrayed by a community lacking basic needs.
To enhance peace and stability in a meaningful and sustainable way, the project integrates ongoing security, development and peacebuilding efforts by strengthening the effectiveness of national responses to insecurity along the border, supporting local conflict resolution and management structures, and building individual and community resilience to the influence of violent extremist actors.
Deris Wanaag Project team leader Ibrahim Hussein Somo describes the borehole as a reflection of what can be achieved when communities are actively involved in shaping solutions to their own challenges.
He says the project had been identified by local residents as a priority intervention to address climate shocks, which exacerbate recurring drought, water shortages and insecurity linked to resource scarcity.
“This borehole is an example of how flexible and agile donor programming can meaningfully address community and government priorities. Deris Wanaag was not initially designed to deliver a borehole, but the programme was able to respond to genuine needs on the ground,” Mr Somo says.
“As this phase of the project comes to an end, we are proud of the relationships built, the resilience strengthened and the progress made in supporting vulnerable groups and promoting peace across the borderlands,” he adds.
The Deris Wanaag Project forms part of the Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership, which has delivered tangible benefits across the country. In the borderlands, the programme has helped counter the influence of Al-Shabaab and strengthened local capacity to prevent radicalisation.
Ben Fisher, Head of the UK’s Integrated Security Fund and Senior Regional Conflict Adviser at the British High Commission in Nairobi, emphasised the value of long-term, community-led partnerships.
“This borehole is a practical example of how collaboration can help communities cope with climate pressures, the influence of violent groups and the risk of conflict over scarce resources,” he said.
To ensure sustainability, the Wajir County Government supported technical assessments, hydrological surveys and the installation of a power generator, strengthening local ownership.
Local leaders welcomed the project, saying access to safe water would ease daily hardship, support pastoralist livelihoods and reduce tensions during droughts.
According to Al Jazeera in February 2026, a severe, drought in Kenya’s North Eastern region caused a critical water shortage, impacting over 2 million people and placing counties like Mandera and Wajir on “alarm” status. Failed rains caused water sources to dry up, causing widespread livestock deaths and child malnutrition.
According to PNTV, community leaders in the region have long cited limited access to reliable water sources as a major source of tension, particularly in areas where pastoral livelihoods depend heavily on scarce natural resources.
By improving water availability, the Geriley borehole is expected to reduce competition over resources while strengthening cooperation among neighbouring communities.
Beyond peacebuilding, the project is also aimed at enhancing resilience to climate change in a region frequently affected by prolonged drought and erratic rainfall.
Improved access to safe water is expected to support household wellbeing, sustain livestock, and reduce the burden on families, especially women and children, who often travel long distances in search of water.
The borehole forms part of broader community-driven approaches to stability supported through the borderlands programme, which emphasises locally identified solutions to insecurity and social fragility across northern Kenya and the wider region.
Stakeholders involved in the initiative say aligning peacebuilding with climate adaptation and basic service delivery is critical to addressing the root causes of instability in frontier areas.
They note that sustainable development interventions, such as water infrastructure, can play a vital role in preventing conflict before it escalates.
The completion of the Geriley borehole marks the close of the Deris Wanaag programme but is expected to leave a lasting impact by improving livelihoods, promoting coexistence, and reinforcing resilience among communities living along one of the region’s most fragile borders.
Wajir County is located in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands region in the North East of Kenya which face severe climatic conditions and significant water scarcity.
According to Wajir County Drought Rapid Assessment Report, December 2025, the region was experiencing worsening drought conditions following the poor performance of the October–November–December (OND) 2025 short rains.
The water availability was critical as seasonal water pans recorded only 10–20 per cent recharge and were projected to dry up by mid-December 2025.
The government noted that approximately 70 per cent of boreholes were operational, but overstretched; operating for extended hours with frequent breakdowns.
The government further noted that settlements dependent on water trucking increased from 130 in October 2025 to 177 in December 2025. Trekking distances, waiting times, and water costs were above normal, while per capita water consumption was below minimum standards, thus increasing public health risks.
The Wajir County Water Resources Fact Sheet shows that the county has more than 14,000 shallow wells, 206 water pans and over 100 boreholes according to its CIDP (2015).
With increased prolonged droughts on the one hand, and increasing water demand on the other, water levels drop to minimum levels causing acute water shortages during the dry season. This is particularly visible with shallow groundwater levels in and around Wajir town. Although only in the hundreds, water pans and boreholes are the other main water sources. Livestock is the major user of water (53%), followed by domestic use (30%).
With an expected growth of 3% of the population per year, water use will grow by more than 35% due to population growth in the coming 10 years. If water supply is brought up to national standards (20 litres perperson, perday with the water source within 1 km distance) this means that water supply needs to increase with 440 %.
Water use for livestock depends on the amount of rain. In years with plenty of rain, cows and camels will stay in the area, while in dry years, they will mainly move out of Wajir County towards grazing grounds that stay green longer. The majority of the goats and sheep remain in the area. Since the area is already at maximum carrying capacity for livestock, local leaders don’t expect that livestock numbers will increase in the future.
According to the Wajir County Water Resources Fact Sheet water availability in the area fluctuates a lot, due to limited rainfall. Because rain only falls during rainy seasons, rainwater storage is needed in order to have water available outside the rainy season.
Actual domestic water use seems to be low, due to large distances to nearest water points. In order to bring this to national standards, a lot of water supply systems need to be developed. Focus should be even more on strategic planning and targeting those areas where the financial resources result in the highest increase in water access.
