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	Introduction   Kenya: Maasai walk   Ethiopia: drought walk   Nairobi: slum walk   El Paso: drought   Calcutta: slum walk   Bangladesh: poisoned water		Collecting water in a Nairobi slum, Kenya Josephine Nduku lives with her nine children in Mukuru KwaRuben, Nairobi. This slum settlement is home to about 8,000 people, but because it is illegal the City Council does not provide services. Ill health means that Josephine is only able to collect small quantities of water at a time but, as she explained, every little helps. "Today I’m just taking the small container as I am still not well after the birth of my baby. That’s all I can carry. "I usually get water in the early morning, about eight o’clock. First I pray, then I get the children ready for school, then I sweep. After school I may send one of the bigger children for water to wash the clothes and dishes and the small children. "I have two water points to choose from. Now we are walking towards one of the points, the path is clear, there are no overflowing drains. "I have lived her for 21 years. My home was in the countryside, at my father’s farm. But when I came here I loved it, there are a lot of people and they work hard for their daily bread. "The children can go to school, people are co-operative, and there are many churches. Fridays are the best day as that is when everyone socialises. "My husband left and so now I am responsible for my home. It’s hard right now, but as my children get bigger the problem will get easier. "Not all my children can go to school because I don’t have the money for the fees. But I hope that this year I might get a small loan and be able to start charcoal dealing. "I used to work as a recycler collecting waste paper, metal and charcoal dust. But it wasn’t steady and I often had no customers." Privatisation The water point is in the middle of Makuru. A plastic pipe brings water in from outside the settlement. The pipe runs down the middle of the lane, in an overflowing gully, full of waste water, sewage and household rubbish. "The man here is selling water," Josephine explained. "Different people work here at the tap - they work for a month and then change, because a group of different people own the supply. "This container will cost me one Kenyan shilling (approx US$ 0.01; the bigger 20 litre container will cost two shillings. (approx US$ 0.02). "I have cut back on my clothes washing so now I wash three times a week, but for my new born baby I wash clothes every day. I have to pay for paraffin, food and school fees, so the thing I can cut back on is water. Drinking, cooking, then washing." Malaria and typhoid are common diseases in Makuru Kwaruben. Fortunately Josephine’s children have suffered nothing worse than headaches and stomach problems, but sickness is still a worry. "I am happy with the water supply because I don’t have to walk far, but I would be much happier if I had my own water point. The water is clean but its not safe, I have to boil it for my children. "If I had money I would start up my own water point. But it would cost 50,000 Kenyan shillings (approx US$ 648) to pay for the materials and you have to get authority from the City Council. That’s an impossible dream." Listen to the radio series: Water Walks parts 1 and 2 BBC World Service Online visited Josephine Nduku in February 2003

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