Clean water for 917 households Kenya

Thank you for supporting this project which is responding to the number one need identified by the communities we work with in Kenya – access to clean water.  People walk every day to collect water and more often than not it is dirty water they have to collect because animals also share the same source or the source has dried up and then they have to continue walking further to find another stream, river or spring.

Your support helps us to provide solutions which include gravity water fed schemes, rain water harvesting from roofs of homes and schools and spring protection schemes.

A natural water spring source is where water bubbles to the surface and collects in a shallow pool where people go to gather water in buckets and containers.  Animals use the same pool to drink from leading to contamination and damage to the ground around the pool making it difficult for people to walk over muddy ground. 

There are several stages to completing a spring protection including drainage and filtering systems around the spring, construction of a cistern to collect water piped from the spring box and a concrete stand with hand pumps where people from the community can gather to pump water into containers to carry to their nearby homes.

The pumps and cistern are protected by a wall and a gate to keep the area closed off to animals to prevent contamination. 

The photographs with this report are taken at a preparatory meeting with the Berea Community in Aniamoi Sub-County, Kericho county.  They are ready to cost share on a spring protection and they have been eagerly waiting for this opportunity.  They met with Brighter Communities Worldwide in February to learn more about how a spring protection can work to provide their families with access to clean water.

They discussed the importance of conserving water sources, good sanitation and hygiene practices and how cost sharing adds to the sustainability of the project.  The cost sharing from the community could be materials or labour not necessarily financial and as well as making the project happen it leads to ownership from the start by the community.

We look forward to updating you on progress as the project unfolds.  Thank you for your support.

In Ngariet, a small village in Kedowa Kimugul ward, Kipkelion East Sub County, Kericho County, Edwin and his community relied solely on Ngariet water source for their water needs. However, the water was not safe because animals and human activities contaminated it, leading to frequent cases of waterborne diseases. The situation worsened during the dry season when people from far away also depended on this source, causing long queues and disrupting daily life, especially for girls attending school and women engaging in economic activities.

Recognising the urgency to address this issue, the Ngariet community sought assistance from Brighter Communities Worldwide. With support from both the community and the organisation, they successfully protected the water source and built a small reservoir tank to increase water volume and reduce contamination. As a result, waterborne diseases decreased, benefiting the 288 households and 1712 individuals who relied on the spring.

Similarly, Hassan Kipchumba, the principal of Kiplogoi Primary School in Soliat ward, Sigowet Sub-County, also faced water-related challenges. With 460 students and a staff of 22, they previously fetched water from an unsafe river 10km away, affecting both learning and health.

Brighter Communities Worldwide together with the school board and community, have initiated a project to build a large Ferro cement water tank with a capacity of 60,000 litres. This tank, funded through community contributions and Brighter Communities Worldwide support, will provide safe water for drinking and improve sanitation facilities, including girl-friendly latrines and handwashing stations. The aim is to enhance school performance by reducing absenteeism due to waterborne diseases and ensuring a conducive learning environment.

Brighter Communities Worldwide is currently undertaking the protection of four water sources (Spring Protection) in Kaptembwo, Chereregyot, Emitiot, and Berea, benefiting 917 households and 7 schools. Additionally, 16 water tanks to store rain water will be built in 16 schools across the county.

These highlight the transformative impact of community-led initiatives supported by Brighter Communities Worldwide with your support in improving access to clean water and promoting health and education in rural Kenya.