Examining what impact the lived experiences of the Chuth Ber community have on the re-contamination of healthy drinking water in the home

The local Chuth Ber residents have a water kiosk in their community delivering clean drinking water thanks to the partnership between the SWAP Kenya organisation and the University of Illnois, Chicago and Jaramogi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST). A success story in so many ways, however despite an innovative solution producing healthy drinking water, this interdisciplinary study examines the different opportunities and reasons behind re-contamination of this water taken from the Sola Maji kiosk, whether at the collection point, while being transported or within the confines of the home. Based on confirmed evidence of drinking water re-contamination, research through ethnography, interviews and focus groups, aimed to understand from a bottom up approach about the lived experiences of those selling, delivering and managing this water in this peri-urban community outside Kisumu city, Kenya. This research was conducted through the participation of the local...Show moreThe local Chuth Ber residents have a water kiosk in their community delivering clean drinking water thanks to the partnership between the SWAP Kenya organisation and the University of Illnois, Chicago and Jaramogi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST). A success story in so many ways, however despite an innovative solution producing healthy drinking water, this interdisciplinary study examines the different opportunities and reasons behind re-contamination of this water taken from the Sola Maji kiosk, whether at the collection point, while being transported or within the confines of the home. Based on confirmed evidence of drinking water re-contamination, research through ethnography, interviews and focus groups, aimed to understand from a bottom up approach about the lived experiences of those selling, delivering and managing this water in this peri-urban community outside Kisumu city, Kenya. This research was conducted through the participation of the local community including the water kiosk manager, the boda boda water delivery riders and two focus group studies consisting of the ladies that manage water in the homes, and the findings were examined using an interdisciplinary approach through the lens of anthropology and communication. The findings demonstrated how an innovative solution has vulnerabilities when the environment and the local people themselves, are not fully considered from particular perspectives. Additionally, evidence emerged that the importance of understanding the lived experience of the participants delivering and managing drinking water must be factored into such solutions in order to achieve a fully sustainable success story. The aim of this research was to add context and insight into the re-contamination occurrences, in order to consider mitigation where possible for the future planned expansion of the Sola Maji kiosk projects around Kisumu city in Kenya. This in turn is also relevant to other water kiosks in Kenya that operate in a similar manner in peri-urban communities similar to Chuth Ber.Show less

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Examining what impact the lived experiences of the Chuth Ber community have on the re-contamination of healthy drinking water in the home