Rotary Kenya’s Largest District Grant Provides Sustainable WASH Solutions

By Edward Wahome

The largest global grant approved by The Rotary Foundation in Rotary Kenya is being implemented by the Rotary Club of Nakuru. The grant is sponsored by three clubs: RC Lünen-Werne of D1900, RC Hoorn of D1580 and RC Nakuru of D9212. The total grant value is USD 323,091; approximately Kes 33.93million.

This is a humanitarian project with water and sanitation as the area of focus and is a carry-on of RC Nakuru’s famous 6T program that was started around 2002.

The objectives of the project are:

1.  Provision of equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water;
2.  Facilitation of universal and equitable access to improved sanitation and waste management ;
3.  Improving community hygiene knowledge, behaviors, and practices that help prevent the spread of diseases.

Cost-Sharing Project:

The beneficiaries make a contribution to the tank construction by supplying locally available materials and workforce. This way they are ensures fully committed and true ownership of the project and create a desire to maintain the facility in optimal condition. Before building a tank a home must have a toilet with a hand wash facility; plant at least 100 trees on the compound; attend ongoing training provided by RC Nakuru.  

RCCs and smaller local self-help groups meet once a month for training in general health, hygiene and sanitation. Nutrition, local farming, gardening and table banking among other topics.

The ultimate goal of the project is to transform the lives of the local communities concerned and empower them to take action and move forward and get out of poverty.  The project aim is to provide rainwater harvested from roof runoff into 700 tanks of 10,000 liters each to 700 families that will see approximately 5000 people have direct access to clean potable water. 700 toilets will be in place, over 700,000 new trees will have been grown, 700 beneficiaries’ capacity will be enhanced and over 5000 lives will be transformed.

So far over 7400 tanks have been built in the past 20 years in Nakuru, Laikipia and Nyandarua counties; which are the areas of program implementation; and it can be concluded that this transformation is an ongoing and efficient process.

See Also

Rotarians Bring Dignity to Students In Ongata Rongai, Kenya

The current Global grant implementation was started in June 2021 and will go on for approximately 2 years. Each month 40 tanks are constructed; and up to end of October 200 tanks have been constructed. The grant fund pays for hardware materials, delivery, training, project management, signage, supervision, audit, monitoring and evaluation and supervision.

The host club project management keeps all concerned by providing details of tanks and training done, pictures of the tanks with the beneficiaries and GPRS location; journal of expenses and bank statements.

Those who have tanks and those waiting come together to help in the tanks’ construction. One of the activities is preparing the support of the tank dome. A workable toilet and at least 100 trees is a requirement to get a tank. Delivery of the materials can be a challenge and must be signed off by the benefiting RCC representative. Monitoring by host Rotarians is helpful.