Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 54 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Aug 2025

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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Community Profile

The Shiyunzu Health Center provides vital medical services to the local community, treating an average of 50 outpatients daily. Despite facing the significant challenge of lacking access to a reliable and safe water source, the center continues to operate and serve its patients.

"Shiyunzu Dispensary (Health Center) was established in 2018 by the Ministry of Health in Kakamega County. Prior to its establishment, there were no nearby healthcare facilities, which forced community members to travel long distances to seek medical assistance," shared Field Officer Rachael Obura.

"The health care facility shares its water with community members. During the dry season, there is usually congestion at the waterpoint as people scramble for water, leading to conflicts," continued Rachael.

People waiting to collect water.

Normally, the center's rain tanks can barely meet their daily needs, especially when shared by the surrounding community. During the dry season, water is even more scarce and has to be rationed. The health center rain tanks must be reserved for the staff, and patients' use only, so local residents are forced to either purchase water from water vendors or make the labor-intensive journey to an alternative, unprotected water source themselves. This steals their resources—monetarily, physically, or time-wise—detracting from their ability to thrive and simply allowing them to survive.

Sadly, the water that community members work so hard to access is reported to have an unpleasant taste, smell, and appearance, which is not surprising considering it comes from contaminated sources.

"There have been high incidences of waterborne diseases, such as diarrhea and typhoid, among the nearby community members," shared Rachael. So not only are people's time and energy consumed, but the water they work so hard to obtain ends up making them ill and sending them to the health center for treatment.

Patrick.

"Clean and safe drinking water is paramount in any given household. As a community, we should all strive to have clean and safe drinking water. We all need water for our daily activities like cleaning, cooking, and bathing. Water keeps us hydrated," said 50-year-old farmer and local community member Patrick Nadwa.

Patrick wisely shared, "If action is not taken, waterborne diseases will take a toll on the community members, and it will affect their progress. Healthy community members are a wealthy community."

The center's pharmacy.

Access to clean water isn't just beneficial; it's crucial for the Shiyunzu Health Center's safe and effective operation. Water plays a multifaceted role in healthcare delivery, from maintaining hygiene standards to enabling proper sanitation practices. The broader benefits of clean water mean a community set to thrive. The absence of a reliable clean water source not only hampers the health center's ability to provide quality care but also perpetuates a cycle of health challenges within the broader population it serves. Implementing a well on campus will make an impact on the health center, making proper medical care an easier venture and creating a healthier community.

Steps Toward a Solution

Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.

Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!

Handwashing Stations
Alongside each water source, we install handwashing stations at points of care and at the latrines, enabling everyone at the health center to wash their hands. Handwashing is crucial for preventing water-related illnesses within the health center and community. Health center staff will maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap, which we will teach them how to make.

Latrines
We ensure there are Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks that effectively prevent the transmission of fecal diseases. Each latrine will boast a durable cement floor for easy use and maintenance. We’ll ensure at least one stall is reserved for staff, along with gender-separated toilets that include menstrual hygiene facilities and accessible options for individuals with limited mobility.

Health Center Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each health center's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee comprises a community health volunteer, the staff in charge of the clinic, a community leader, and the health center board representative. They assume responsibility for maintaining the waterpoint, promoting safe hygiene and sanitation practices, and keeping handwashing stations well-stocked.

Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community.

Project Updates


August, 2025: Shiyunzu Health Center Well Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Shiyunzu Health Center in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their borehole well! Staff, patients, and their families are already using the well’s flowing water, which will provide the health center with a reliable water source for all of its daily needs.

"Adequate supply of water will help us provide timely services to patient as it will save us the time of having to source for water locally which might not be readily available and also expensive to buy, thus more patients will be attended to and on a timely manner and better services will be provided due to available water supply," said Charge Nurse Lidya Otando.

Nurse Otando drinks water from the new well.

"Enough supply of clean water will reduce waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, typhoid, and bacteria, hence promoting [a] healthier lifestyle and cutting the cost incurred in [the] treatment of these illnesses. Hence, in the long run, [it will] reduce the number of patients needing treatment," said Nurse Otando.

Nurse Mirayo collects clean water.

"We will have enough water to clean instruments and [for] hand washing, as I perform other duties. The environment will be clean, hence boosting my morale," said another staff member, Nurse Edith Mirayo.

How We Got the Water Flowing

Staff and community members all contributed to this well’s success. After determining the best site for the well through a hydrogeological survey, we obtained approval from the government to begin drilling.

To prepare, everyone helped collect fine sand and water for cement-making. Our drill team and staff arrived at the center to begin work when everything was ready.

Groundbreaking.

Drilling started with excitement in the air. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 120 meters with a final static water level of 15 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the drill team set up a camp where they could rest and refuel.

Once we reached the required depth, a permanent casing was installed and the dirty water at the bottom of the well was bailed out. Workers installed pipes, flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

Flushing the well.

After chlorination, we constructed a cement well pad to seal it off from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles were installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water.

We included a short drainage channel and a soak pit to carry spilled water away from the pump and prevent standing water.

Installing the well pad.

When the well pad was dry, we installed a new stainless steel hand pump and performed a water quality test. The results showed this water was safe for drinking!

The enthusiasm for this much-anticipated project was overwhelming. We officially gave ownership of the new borehole to the health center staff and the local community members.

Installing the pump.

Everyone celebrated the health center’s new water source. The celebration was a great opportunity to acknowledge the staff and remind them of our continued support. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

"I cannot believe that now the Shiyunzu Dispensary can have water," said Mr. Patrick Nandwa, the Chairman of Shiyunzu Dispensary.

Mr. Patrick Nandwa.

"It is a blessing that now the mothers who want to deliver can come because the facility now has safe and clean water," exclaimed Nurse Otando.

Nurse Otando can now easily access clean water.

Community Education

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the health center staff. When the training day arrived, field officers Daisy Khatunyi and Mary Afandi deployed to the site to lead the event. 13 people attended the training.

During our training, we covered a range of essential topics, including personal, oral, food, and environmental hygiene. We discussed disease prevention strategies, the ten-step handwashing protocol, and the construction of handwashing facilities. Additionally, we talked about safe water handling, maintenance and operation of water points, as well as principles of leadership and governance.

Learning to make soap.

"The participants were very active during training, most of them were Community Health Volunteers, who attended the training and explained how they work in communities. They indicated that [what] they had learnt would assist them when they were out working among the community members," shared Field Officer Mary Afandi.

Julius Mboya.

"The most interesting topic was how to handle water after fetching, and how many days water [needs to] be changed in a container for safe consumption at home. Our environment where we stay must be clean and have fresh air to reduce some diseases. It is my sole responsibility to take care of my personal hygiene," shared Julius Mboya, a 54-year-old local minister and member of the new water user committee.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




July, 2025: Exciting Progress at Shiyunzu Health Center!

Thanks to your generous support, we’re thrilled to share that a significant change is coming for community member Patrick Nadwa and the staff, patients, and surrounding community members of Shiyunzu Health Center. Construction has begun on the well project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip people with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water at Shiyunzu Health Center soon!




Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


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