Rotary Club of Syokimau, Santa Barbara Charter Community Corps in Webuye, Kenya

By Gloria Kikete-Mabwai

The Rotary Club of Syokimau and Rotary Club of Santa Barbara have chartered a 10-member Rotary Community Corps (RCC) in Webuye, western Kenya, a year after undertaking a project in the area.

An RCC is a group of non-Rotarians who share our commitment to changing the world through service projects. Sponsored by a Rotary club, an RCC plans and carries out projects in their communities in collaboration with Rotary clubs.

One year ago, the Rotary Club of Syokimau embarked on an ambitious project to provide clean, safe drinking water to a community in Bungoma County, Kenya. With financial support from the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara and the Greek Orthodox Church in California, we set out to rehabilitate an existing borehole.

Upon assessment, it became evident that the borehole’s production did not justify the investment required for a new solarized pump. In a stroke of generosity, the consultant on the project, a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Industrial Area who operates Davison Water Drilling, offered his professional services pro bono.

This allowed us to reallocate funds to drill a new borehole. The Lurare dispensary, initially intended as the project site, graciously permitted Nzoia RC, a neighboring primary school, to host the borehole due to its more suitable drilling site.

Months later, on January 28, 2023, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bungoma Magharibi, we commissioned the project. A village caravan, consisting of 22 out of our 39 members at the time, made their way to the site, hosted by a local member. The community greeted us with joy, expressing gratitude for the project’s timely arrival amid a looming drought.

Fast forward to one year later, on March 5, 2024, to commemorate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) month, we returned to the site accompanied by Rotarians from Santa Barbara and Colorado. We were heartened to discover that both communities—the school and the dispensary—were sharing the water resource harmoniously. Moreover, the project was diligently maintained, and what began with just two water points had expanded to six, even accommodating a water point accessible to the local residents.

Rotary Community Corps
We identified 10 community members and initiated the process of chartering a Rotary Community Corps (RCC) to ensure the project’s sustainability for years to come. This diverse group included representatives from the county administration, the national government, local administration, the dispensary and the school, ensuring that all stakeholders interests are represented and protected.

This success story underscores the power of collaboration across Rotary clubs and districts. By working together, we maximize our impact on communities in need. Additionally, this project aligns with several of Rotary’s areas of focus, including disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation, and hygiene, maternal and child health, and basic education and literacy. It serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Rotary’s humanitarian efforts.