NACODEV: 20 years of building dams

End of 2000, our Kenyan partner NACODEV started the construction of the first four dams in the dry seasonal river Kinyongo. With the aim of reducing the negative consequences of the increasingly frequent droughts. Together with the communities of Ngangani, Makutano and Mathingau, they have expanded the number of dams to as many as 30 in recent years!

Now, 20 years later, Kinyongo has changed from a dry, arid riverbed, into a green-lined river where water can be found all year round. Where farmers previously only grew maize and beans and depended on the rains, now large vegetable fields and fruit trees can be found along the banks. The crops are irrigated, ensuring a good harvest. This has greatly improved the income of the farmers.

The landscaped bank protection zones are now covered with trees, shrubs and grasses. This protects agricultural land against erosion, and in many places green areas of nature have been created where herons and kingfishers find a place.

View a StoryMap from NACODEV about Kinyongo. Here the 30 dams are located and you can see how the residents around Kinyongo make use of the retained water.

Join us!

Water is life! The results achieved in Kinyongo are a good example of this. That is why we help residents of other areas to build dams in seasonal rivers as well. The water that is retained in this way is badly needed for drinking water, cultivation of crops and income. Through our partner NACODEV, we help farmers to set up horticultural businesses. But also to protect nature on the vulnerable banks.

Our projects

News

April 2021: Practical training vegetable growing. Read more ... March 2021: Riverbank protection zones created. February 2021: Demo-plots with net-houses and drip built. January 2021: Trainings started. November / December 2020: Rains fill the dams. October 2020: First dam ready. August / September 2020: Construction of dams in full swing!