Over 300 households in Siaya County to benefit from water project
KAKC Director, Daniel Sankaire taking pupils and teachers through handwashing steps at Sangla Primary School in Siaya County on November 30, 2021.
Over 300 households in Siaya County are set to benefit from a water and sanitation project that seeks to address poor school attendance and gender-based violence.
The initiative supported by KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Alumni Kenya Chapter (KAKC) is part of their effort to promote Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in water resource-poor settings.
KAKC director Daniel Sainkaire expressed confidence that the installation of water storage tanks and hand washing stations at Sangla village in Rarieda Sub County will immensely contribute to the well-being of children and their families.
While the projects are expected to directly benefit learners at Sangla Primary School and the neighbouring Mahaya Mixed Secondary School, Dr Sainkaire noted that surrounding community members will not be left out.
“For many communities like Sangla and Mahaya, water sources are usually far from their homes, and it typically falls to women and girls to spend much of their time and energy fetching water - a task which often leads to poor school attendance, overwork and even getting exposed to gender-based violence,” he said.
Dr Sainkaire indicated that the KOICA/KAKC team donated two-10,000 litres’ Roto Water tank and 13 Roto hand-washing stations with double taps and drainage pipes to be used by learners, teachers and visitors to the schools.
“This will protect them from the many diarrheal diseases, intestinal worms and even the current threat of Covid-19,” he said.
The Head Teacher of Sangla Primary Dickson Nyarandi said lack of clean water has forced pupils to fetch water from water pans, several kilometers away from the school, for their use at home and carry back to school in 5-litre jerricans for hand washing and drinking while back in school.
“The school has had no piped water ever since and the old concrete water tank that was done by the community 15 years ago now has cracks and therefore could not hold water,” said Mr Nyarandi.
KAKC is an alumni association for all Kenyan officials that have participated or benefited from the KOICA fellowship programme.
