Friends Kaimosi Primary School

Project Status

Project Type: Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 1,159 Served

Project Phase: In Service - Oct 2025

Functionality Status: Functional

Project Features

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Water is critical for the 1,090 students and 69 staff at Friends Kaimosi Primary School. However, they do not have enough water to meet their daily needs and ensure the school's proper functioning as a day school and boarding school.

The school has two available water sources: a pipe stand providing public water and rainwater collection tanks, but neither can provide sufficient water for such a large school population. The school must pay for the piped water, but it is expensive, and frequently, the infrastructure (power and piping) for the water to flow is compromised. The rain tanks simply can not collect enough water during the short rainy season to sustain the demand.

"Our main water source is the municipal water supply, which bills are always expensive, and if we delay or fail to pay for the services, then [the] water is disconnected, and this affects the school and boarding students," said 39-year-old teacher French Logovane.

Mr. Logovane teaching students.

"Water is a very key thing here at school, and lack of enough water surely makes students uncomfortable with learning. For instance, if students don't have water for drinking, they will definitely not concentrate in class, and some will have [a] headache which ends up destructing lessons," continued Mr. Logovane.

"Most staff members don't stay within [the] school compound, but for the few who stay around (me included), [we] have to adjust to the situation just like [the] students. During [the] daytime, water is limited just for drinking because both day [students] and boarding students use the water sources, which teachers need to be present to control," said Mr. Logovane.

For the teachers to help students have the best chance of a bright future, they all need a reliable, safe water source on their school campus that allows them to stay in class.

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 two gravity-fed handwashing stations, enabling everyone at the school to wash their hands. Handwashing is crucial for preventing water-related illnesses within the school and community. Student “health clubs” maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap, which we often teach them how to make.

Latrines
We will construct two Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks designed to prevent fecal disease transmission. Each latrine features a cement floor, making it easy to use and clean regularly. Three stalls will serve the girls, and three will serve the boys.

School Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each school'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.

To ensure a lasting impact, we support forming a student health club composed of elected student representatives and a teacher. These clubs promote hygiene practices schoolwide and keep handwashing stations well-stocked. This student-led model encourages a sense of ownership and responsibility.

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

Project Updates

October, 2025: Friends Kaimosi Primary School Well Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Friends Kaimosi Primary School in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their borehole well! Clean flowing water is already making a difference in the lives of the students and staff. This will provide them with a reliable water source for their daily needs.

We installed new latrines and handwashing stations, then trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to thrive!

Esnas.

"With this new water point, I am hopeful that this new water point will mean access to safe and clean water, meaning fewer visits to [the] hospital, peace for my parents, and more time with my teachers. Reliable water ensures that my personal hygiene is maintained at all times, especially during hand washing, bathing, menstrual hygiene, and other areas. Reliable water ensures that the environment I stay in is clean. Clean environment and personal hygiene ensure my mind is settled and at peace with confidence, ensuring I concentrate on my studies," shared 14-year-old Esnas.

Teachers were just as excited as the students about the new well on campus!

Teacher Evelyn Egesa.

"Before the construction of this water point, the school depended entirely on the rain water tanks and supply from the municipal counsel. Neither of which was adequate, safe, nor reliable. I hope now with this project, I can be assured of clean, safe, and reliable water throughout the year. I no longer have to carry my drinking water from home," said 43-year-old teacher Evelyn Egesa.

How We Got the Water Flowing

The first step was to conduct a hydrogeological survey to determine the the best site for the school's well. Once we found the perfect spot, the team obtained approval from the government to begin drilling.

Parents, staff, and students all contributed to this well’s success, right from the start. To prepare for the well, the school collected fine sand and water for cement-making. When everything was ready, our drill team and staff arrived at the school to begin work.

Drilling.

Drilling started with excitement in the air. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 100 meters with a final static water level of 19.5 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the team set up a camp where they could rest and refuel. The school’s kitchen staff and parents helped provide meals for the team, while the school provided a safe place for the artisans’ accommodations and materials.

Building the well pad.

Once we reached the optimum depth, the team inserted permanent casing, then bailed out the dirty water at the bottom of the well. The workers installed pipes, flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

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 prevent standing water.

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

Installing the pump.

We officially gave ownership of the new borehole to the school’s students and teachers.

Students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus. The event was an excellent chance to acknowledge the school administration and students, and remind them of our continued support. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

VIP Latrines

Boys at their new latrine.

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. These new latrines have cement floors designed to be easy to use and clean. They have locking doors for safety and privacy, as well as vents to keep air flowing out through the roof. With a well right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.

Handwashing Stations

Handwashing station outside the latrine.

We set up two handwashing stations outside the latrines. Student Health Club members will teach other students how to wash their hands at the stations properly, fill the stations with water, and ensure that there is always soap available.

School Education

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the school’s staff. When the training day arrived, facilitators Patience Njeri and Christine Masinde deployed to the site to lead the event. 81 students and teachers attended the training.

"The attendance was above and beyond my expectations. The school administration really went [all] out in ensuring that most of the learners get to experience and be a part of this training. We had a representation of learners from grades five to nine, both genders. We also had a representation from the teachers who were eager to find out more about the training," shared one of the facilitators, Patience.

Handwashing session.

We emphasized personal, menstrual, oral, and environmental hygiene. Proper water handling, soap-making, the ten steps of handwashing, and the importance of primary health care were discussed. We covered disease prevention, teen pregnancy, and child rights. Waterpoint, latrine, and handwashing station operation and maintenance, as well as leadership and governance were discussed. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

Learning how to take care of the well properly.

The students elected peers to lead their newly formed student health club. The student health club members will encourage good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.

The menstrual hygiene session was informative for all.

"At the start of the menstrual hygiene topic, the boys weren't really enthusiastic at all. Most of them murmured and said it's a girl's issue. But one of the boy learners quickly asked a question that piqued the curiosity of the rest. They eventually agreed that yes, this would be a good time to know about it," said Patience.

"During the menstrual hygiene topic, most of the boys confessed to having never seen a pad in their lives. One of the trainers took out a pad from her purse and encouraged that the pad be passed to the boys in class so that they could see it, hold it, and get a feel of it. The whole class burst out laughing, some of the boys laughed at others, and their reaction to the pad. One particular learner could not get himself to hold the pad; he pulled his sweater to his hands in order to hold the pad. The trainer had come in and tried to demystify myths surrounding menstrual hygiene and everything around it. This changed the whole view of the class, and they ended up enjoying the lesson," Patience continued.

"Honestly, this has to be one of the best training sessions I have found myself in. The participants were the most enthusiastic and committed group of people I have encountered in my training. They were curious, ready to learn, and full of questions, which made the session very interesting," she concluded.

Shirley.

"Soap making and menstrual hygiene were my memorable topics for the day. I am yet to start my period, and before this, I have never really had anyone talk to me about menstrual hygiene. Most of the people just speak of it in passing. It was really nice for our trainer to do so in detail. I am now ready for my menses. I know how I will be able to handle myself when it comes. I know now that, besides just being clean and looking good, personal hygiene also boosts one's confidence. I intend to ensure that I maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene so that my confidence is boosted. The discussion on menstrual hygiene was very eye-opening for us all. The myths that were demystified have helped us change our view on the whole topic," celebrated 12-year-old Shirley.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

August, 2025: Exciting Progress at Friends Kaimosi Primary School!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Mr. Logovane and the entire Friends Kaimosi Primary School. 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 the community 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—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water at Friends Kaimosi Primary School!

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!

Friends Kaimosi Primary School

Project Status

Community Profile