From September 24 to 26, 2025, Brian Ayugi spent a few days at the Kuku restoration site of Justdiggit, diving into hands-on work with soil sensors, gateways, and weather stations. The goal: to check how the instruments are performing and ensure they’recollecting accurate soil and weather data. 

The visit is part of a broader intercomparison study between restoration sites in two different landscapes and management contexts. In Kuku, southeast Kenya, the land is open to wildlife but not to livestock, while in Naibunga, northern Kenya, restoration takes place within a community conservancy that is freely accessible for both grazing and wildlife. By comparing these two sites, the team aims to better understand how different land-use pressures influence soil moisture, vegetation recovery, and overall ecosystem resilience. 

Guided by biodiversity expert Carlos Nyabuto from Justdiggit, Brian inspected, installed, and repaired soil sensors, while also seeing the gateways and weather stations in action. “Being out in the field and working directly with the sensors was eye-opening,” Brian says. “I learned a lot from Carlos about how to troubleshoot and maintain these instruments so they perform efficiently.” 

It wasn’t just about fixing equipment. The visit was a chance for knowledge exchange, testing different field operations, and improving how monitoring is done across sites, including Naibunga. Brian’s expertise and experience with these tools helped identify ways to make the sensors more reliable and the data more accurate—essential for ensuring the intercomparison delivers meaningful results. 

This work ties into the broader Water Scarcity project, which addresses water stress in Kenya’s Ewaso Ng’iro North River basin. By combining science and local expertise, the project aims to restore landscapes, improve water availability, and support ecosystems in one of the country’s most water-stressed regions. 

For Brian, the visit reinforced the importance of hands-on fieldwork. “Working on-site with the instruments, troubleshooting problems, and learning from other experts helps us make sure the data we collect truly supports sustainable water and land management,” he says. 

Visuals from the visit were provided by Daniel Kishoyian from the Justdiggit team.