World Vision and KenGen have inaugurated a masonry water tank valued at Sh700,000 to improve access to clean water in Nakuru county.
The initiative aims to address the critical water needs of the Mimwatia community, benefiting over 350 children from the local school and neighbouring Salgaa town, an area plagued by water scarcity and related vulnerabilities.
KenGen managing director Eng Peter Njenga emphasised the profound impact of improved water access on education and health in the Mimwatia school community.
"I am elated that today KenGen is part of the solution through the construction of this 30,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank in partnership with World Vision Kenya. This initiative is not just about providing water; it is about ensuring that children can focus on their education, stay healthy, and realise their full potential. Because we believe education is an equaliser and enabler in life," he said.
Njenga added that KenGen is deeply committed to environmental stewardship, demonstrated by its extensive tree-planting programmes.
Last year alone, KenGen planted over 350,000 tree seedlings. By March this year, the agency had planted more than 270,000 trees, with an additional 180,000 seedlings planned for this quarter.
Fredrick Kasiku, Programme Effectiveness and Impact director at World Vision Kenya, expressed gratitude to KenGen for their investment.
"Our assessment revealed a concerning trend in water accessibility and rainwater harvesting in Salgaa. This collaboration with KenGen and the Mimwatia community represents a significant step towards enhancing health and education outcomes. Through our Inuka Angaza Fund, a Kenyan-funded programme in Salgaa, we aim to address critical issues such as water scarcity, education, health, and child protection in the area,” Kasiku said.
The tank, with a capacity of 30,000 litres, was officially commissioned on World Environment Day, marked by the unveiling of the facility and the planting of 1,000 tree seedlings donated by KenGen.
The lack of clean water in six Salgaa schools has exposed children to waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and typhoid. Many of the students come from low-income households and often have to skip school to search for water.
Catherine Karime, the head teacher at Mimwatia Primary School, welcomed the new tank as a transformative investment.
"This will greatly improve our sanitation, reduce costs and allow us to establish a kitchen garden to supplement school meals. Better rainwater harvesting will also support our efforts in combating climate change," she said.
A 2020 needs assessment revealed that the Mimwatia community depends on the seasonal and contaminated Rongai River for water, located three-five kilometres away.
The installation of the new tank will significantly reduce this dependence, providing a stable supply of clean water and enhancing rainwater harvesting capabilities.
The Kenya National Water and Sanitation Investment and Financing Plan indicates that Kenya’s water and sanitation sector faces a substantial funding gap of Sh652 billion as it strives to reach Sustainable Development Goal number 6.
This SDG seeks to guarantee universal access to safe and sustainable water and sanitation management for all by the year 2030.
