The drought season in Oldanyati is 8 months long.
Oldanyati lacks permanent rivers or reliable natural springs. It is an arid region at the leeward shield of Ngong Hills, and receives an average of 700mm of rainfall per year.
80% of the population is categorized as living below the national poverty index. Rainfall in Kenya, especially in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands/ASALS, has increasingly been low and erratic due to environmental degradation and changing global weather patterns.

The main source of water is surface run off from occasional rains, and even in this instance, there are no dams or cisterns to assist in rain water harvesting, resulting in acute shortages for drinking, domestic and agricultural use. The Maasai people are known for their nomadic nature, more often than not to find other sources of water to feed their families and livestock – to survive. The Maasai are known to travel up to 10 km daily, to gather water from unprotected, bacteria-laden, sources. Up to 60% of Maasai children require monthly medical attention, due to the daily consumption of contaminated drinking water.

Traditionally, women and girls are responsible for traveling these distances and providing water for daily use – one of many major responsibilities she has in maintaining her home and village. This fact contributes to the elevated, disproportionate number of uneducated girls, women’s health and mortality rates, particularly of expectant mothers charged with carrying heavy weights, long distances, up steep gradients. The water shortage also affect school enrollment severely during dry seasons. Drop out rates dramatically increase at these times interrupting teaching and learning in Maasai area schools.  Providing clean drinking water in Maasailand is vital for the health of the Maasai Community.