Water services in Kenya are often inadequate, unsafe and unsustainable. The arid and semi-arid and  poor  peri-urban  areas  are  mostly  vulnerable  and  are  largely  characterized  by  low  water services  provision  and  severe  water  scarcity,  where  the demand  substantially  surpasses  its availability.

According to this manual, sand dams are among the most cost-effective methods of rainwater harvesting known. They have the potential to provide communities living in dry land areas with an improved local water supply for life, even during periods of drought. The manual draws upon the experience of constructing sand dams in Kenya, where the majority of the world"s sand dams are located.