Maryknoll Father John Lange is involved in many water projects in the African country of Kenya where water is a serious problem for many people both in the slums of Nairobi and the drier areas throughout the nation. He has completed a water irrigation project in Kiganjo which lies in the foothills of Mount Kenya.

One hundred and eighty-five small family farms enjoy water irrigation from the Sagana River, a mountain stream off of Mt. Kenya. People grow a vast variety of crops such as passion fruit, French beans, cabbage, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, etc. The biggest benefit is to their corn which usually grows by natural rainfall to two-thirds maturity and then wilts and dries for lack of rain. The irrigation water pulls the crop through to a good harvest Fr. Lange has helped the people build a small irrigation dam, three 20,000 gallon water storage tanks, and 15 miles of piping all of which has taken six years and $300,000.

He would like to think the project is finished, but the people drain the Sagana River and the government is threatening to close the project unless the people build a huge dam to form a huge lake for use in the dry season. This will cost an estimated $70,000. Fr. Lange has told the people if they pay half (from the sale of their produce), he will add the other half. Translated this means if they pay one-tenth, Fr. Lange will add the nine-tenths. But he insists that the people make a big sacrifice so that the project can be called THEIRS.

Fr. Lange has completed a borehole (deep wells going down 150 to 350 yards) projects in four locations. In The Mua Hills, 50 miles East of Nairobi, they built four 20,000 gallon water storage tanks and laid seven and a half miles of piping. Five thousand people now receive pure drinking water. He completed smaller borehole projects at Kangemi School, Kabati School, and Komorock Community. These borehole projects serve an average of 1000 people. Fr. Lange has government approval for 3 more borehole projects and will proceed with them as funds are available.

Some farmers show Fr. John the fruits of the Sagana Irrigation Project: cabbages, carrots, and beans

Learn more about John's Water Projects

Learn about John's Other Ministries

John's Biography             John's Reflections

     View the Photo Album of John's Ministries    

John may be contacted by Email at:   JLange@Maryknoll.org

Maryknollers in Nairobi, Kenya