Improving maternal and child health in Kenya

The Laikipia, Samburu and Turkana counties are underdeveloped semi-arid and arid lands in Northern Kenya. The frequent cross-border attacks and raids on livestock by armed tribesmen in the region leads to a high number of casualties and a stunting of development programmes among the pastoralist communities in the region; there is limited access to basic welfare services, most of which have been destroyed in the prolonged conflict. This also has an adverse effect on the health of the women and children.

In recent years, Kenya has performed poorly on indicators of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH); the 2014 Kenyan demographic survey shows that infant mortality rate in the country stood at 39 deaths per 1000 births, and the World Bank survey assessed Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) at 525 for the same year. The widespread HIV infection and the prevalence of practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and beading  (community sanctioned rape by a relative) also have an adverse impact on the health of women in the region.

Pragya’s intervention is focusing on the MNCH levels in the area. We are conducting research and holding consultations with local community members to generate qualitative data on the state of existing welfare services, reproductive health & nutrition among women and the potential challenges to establishing peer support networks in the region. The data collected after interacting with the locals, and other participants will be validated at the village and country level. The findings of the study will be collated, analyzed and published in the form of a report.

The dissemination of the findings from the research will aim to strengthen the local healthcare capacity, increase access to maternal and child health services in the community and improve the local healthcare governance in the region.

Impact of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in Kenya - A Case Study

Improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices are crucial to the improvement in the livelihood of any community. Pragya Kenya’s WASH project aimed to improve domestic water supplies as well as impact on the health of the community members within Laikipia and Samburu counties in Kenya. With the implementation of the WASH project, the interventions have effectively addressed some of the key issues thereby improving family health and livelihood among the community members. Appropriate interventions were made to improve domestic water supplies through revitalization and protection of water sources, construction of rainwater harvesting structures as well as construction of Eco-san toilets. The project also created awareness in schools and within the communities through training of water sanitation councils to promote practices that ensure reservation and proper conservation of water sources.


A Case Study




Mrs Lydia Kisersian,  a 36 year old mother of 2 children (Jesinoi, 13yrs old and  Kereiyo, 7yrs old) lives in Mkurian village in Laikipia north. She has benefitted greatly from the rain water harvesting structure that has been constructed a few meters from her homestead. This water source, though it’s not able to store water for the entire dry season, has still saved her form commuting the long distance of 4km in order to fetch water from Olkinyei seasonal river. These trips used to take her 3 to 4 hours every day and shows able to make only 2 trips in a day. Since this water would not be sufficient for use in the homestead therefore her two children would make another trip in the evening after they got back from school. She is now able to get both domestic and livestock water from that source which is 100m from her homestead. This has been of great benefit to her since now she is able to engage herself in other activities that bring extra income to her family. She has joined a beading group where they make beaded ornaments like necklaces and bangles and sell in the market at a profit. Her children also get more time to concentrate on learning and doing homework other than fetching water after school.

 [Lydia (seen below) who has benefited from Pragya’s WASH project, which has seen construction of rainwater harvesting structures.)