The prolonged dry spell has worsened the situation.
Residents say they travel about 45 kilometres to find water, while some households buy a 20-litre jerrycan at Sh150. Learners have been seen ferrying water in jerrycans, adding to the burden on schools and families.
Education stakeholders have warned that the shortage could disrupt learning and preparations for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Some residents wake as early as 3 am to travel long distances for water, often risking encounters with elephants. Elizabeth Nkopo, a Singiraine resident, said the search had become a daily struggle that interferes with normal household activities.
"We usually load our donkeys at 3 am and set off to fetch water. Sometimes we encounter elephants along the way, and we are forced to return home without water, affecting our normal activities," she said.
Nkopo said the only solar-powered borehole available to residents also serves eight other villages, leading to long queues for people and livestock.
James Sororo said the high cost of water had left families unable to secure enough for domestic use and their animals.
"Water has become like gold to us. Since the company was closed, we have been forced to buy a jerrycan at Sh150, yet this is not enough for both domestic and livestock use," he said.
He warned that the shortage had also heightened human-wildlife conflict, as elephants venture into villages in search of water.
The situation has reportedly worsened following the closure of Tata Chemicals Magadi by the Ministry of Mining over compliance issues. The closure disrupted water supplies that were previously transported by train and distributed through several storage points.
The Tanathi Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA) is supplying water to affected communities. Its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Naporos, said emergency deliveries were underway as the government pursues long-term solutions.
Two water bowsers with a combined capacity of 80,000 litres have been deployed to serve 25 schools with about 5,400 pupils and 12,000 community members in Olkeri, Oldonyo Onyokie and other affected areas. The six-month intervention began two months ago and is meant to provide temporary relief.
Naporos said the agency also plans medium-term measures, including rehabilitating the Olkeri and Naserian water lines to expand access. TWWDA currently draws water from Ngurumani Springs and Oloibor Toto through a 34-kilometre pipeline.
In the long term, the government plans to build the proposed Ewuaso Ng'iro multipurpose dam. It is expected to serve Kajiado West in Kajiado County and the Narok South and Narok East constituencies in Narok County, where communities have repeatedly faced shortages during dry spells.
Residents and education stakeholders are calling for urgent and reliable water supplies to prevent further disruption to learning and protect families' livelihoods.
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