Learners at Unoa Comprehensive School in Makueni subcounty will have access to clean water after First Lady Rachel Ruto launched the drilling of a borehole.
The project aims to alleviate the persistent water scarcity in the area.
Rachel announced that the borehole under construction will be operational before schools reopen for the third term.
The project will also serve the surrounding community and enable the school to establish a kitchen garden.
"Water from this borehole will improve sanitation, food security through kitchen gardens, nutrition and enhance overall performance of the school," the First Lady said at the school on Wednesday.
Tree planting efforts will also be enhanced through the initiative, contributing to the national target of 15 billion trees by 2032. Additionally, it will enable grass planting at the dusty Unoa Sports Ground.
During the event, the First Lady voiced concern over the use of firewood in school kitchens, highlighting its negative impact on the health of both cooks and learners.
She encouraged schools to collaborate with stakeholders to secure alternative, clean cooking energy sources to reverse this worrying trend, emphasising that clean energy promotes environmental conservation.
"I will push for the adoption of clean cooking energy solutions under the Ministry of Energy. Schools need to adopt clean cooking energy as a way to protect both health and the environment from desertification."
The visit fulfilled a commitment she made during the commemoration of the Day of the African Child on June 6, when Rachel officiated the event at Unoa Sports Ground.
The First Lady was accompanied by Children Services PS Carren Ageng’o, Anita Mutula, county commissioner Duncan Darusi, Gender CEC Sebastian Kyoni and his counterparts Japheth Mang’oka (Education) and John Kieti (Water), among other officials from both national and county levels.
Water and sanitation PS Julius Korir, who was also at the event, announced that the national government plans to construct a sewerage system in Wote town, with funding from the African Development Bank.
