Residents in semi-arid pastoral areas of West Pokot County along the Kenya-Uganda border are facing an acute water shortage amid a prolonged drought that has dried up most water sources.

More than 40,000 residents in several villages are reportedly in dire need of water for domestic use and livestock, with the worsening dry spell putting pressure on already scarce resources.

Residents say dams, water pans and rivers have dried up, forcing families to walk long distances in search of water. Some have resorted to digging through dry riverbeds and sand in an effort to access underground water.

The shortage has also severely affected livestock, which remains the main source of livelihood for many pastoralist families in the region. Animals are struggling to access water and pasture as the drought continues.

Some pastoralists have been forced to migrate with their livestock to neighbouring Uganda in search of water and pasture, leaving their homes in the hope of finding better conditions for their animals.

The situation has also led to long queues at the few remaining water points, where residents spend hours waiting to collect water for drinking, cooking and watering their livestock.

However, residents of Alale in West Pokot now have a reason to smile following the construction of their first-ever water well, an initiative supported by Pokot South MP David Pkosing.

The new well is expected to bring water closer to residents, ease the burden of walking long distances and provide much-needed water for livestock. Residents say the project could also help revive livestock keeping, which has been badly affected by the drought.

With the drought continuing to bite, residents are calling for more investment in water infrastructure, including additional wells and boreholes, to address the long-term water needs of communities living in the water-scarce areas.