A Canadian NGO will supply 10,000 litres water tanks and construct permanent hand-washing areas in 245 Mwingi schools.
Life Water Canada says this will address water-borne diseases, provide access to clean water, enforce Ministry of Health protocols to curb Covid-19 spread and prevent school absenteeism. They are in partnership with Christ Mission to the World Organisation.
Daniel Nicole, Life Water Canada vice president said the organisation works on water access, sanitation and hygiene programmes.
“We are issuing 245 schools with rainwater catchment tanks,” he said.
Nicole said the organisation is looking at a permanent solution to end acute water shortage.
He spoke during his tour to Kenya last Thursday.
Nicole said they are undertaking other water programmes in Kisumu and Nakuru.
Over 200 secondary and primary schools in Mwingi Central will now harvest rainwater to help in the next two academic terms.
Dorcas Kithome, a parent from Kyamwenze Girls Secondary school in Mui said parents fetch water to take to school during dry seasons.
She said parents with several children in the school are forced to buy water to bring to the boarding school which is costly.
“This is because we lack proper storage of rainwater. However, with the available tanks, we will have water during the dry season,” she said.
Kithome said they camped at seasonal rivers scooping sand to get water when the levels went down during the dry season.
The parent urged well-wishers to help the community get boreholes to permanently address the water shortage.
A teacher at the school who sought anonymity said they ration water to the girls.
“We give one 20-litre jerry can to four girls for washing and personal use per day,” the teacher said.
The tutor lauded the initiative saying it will be of great help.
A teacher in Waita said most children miss school as they walk kilometres in search of water.
Now that it has rained, the harvested water will help to keep children in school.
“During dry seasons, very many pupils do not come to school for lack of cooking and drinking water,” the teacher said.
It is hard for children to carry water jerry cans to school as they fetch water four kilometres away.
“We hope the harvested water will two terms,” the teacher said.
Peninah Mwikali, another beneficiary from Nuu, said they risk their lives going to fetch water.
She said they may get defiled, or attacked by snakes.
Mwikali said having water in school is convenient, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
