Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Kenya

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jun 2012

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 08/28/2024

Project Features


Click icons to learn about each feature.



Community Profile

This initial background piece is direct from our implementing partner, and is unedited: 

The proposed project is focused on a hand dug well situated in Shihuna community. The pump that was installed many years ago and the well is no longer functioning. The community is having problem fetching water far away from running stream.

The main issue with tho project is community capacity. It has been identified that when the well was constructed there was little attempt to ensure the comity had capacity to manage the ongoing operation and maintenance of the facility. There was a distinct lack of ownership of the scheme, and as such when there was a maintenance event, the community was unable to salvage the project and it fell into disrepair. 

With past events in mind, this project will not only work with the community to rehabilitate the water source. The focus will be on ensuring that adequate processes are in place for the future. The committee will be skilled in hardware maintenance as well as financial management, in particular with regards to the gathering of community contributions to pay for future work. A good indication of the communities willingness to contribute is their commitment to help with labour and materials for the construction of the new well pad.

The community currently access water from a stream called Shianda  which is 2KM away. The stream is seasonal and does not give enough and clean water to users.

The community has a population of 450 people who would benefit from the water source provided. 

Project Updates


July, 2020: COVID-19 Prevention Training Update at Shihuni Community

Our teams are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us in our fight against the virus while maintaining access to clean, reliable water.

We are carrying out awareness and prevention trainings on the virus in every community we serve. Very often, our teams are the first (and only) to bring news and information of the virus to rural communities like Shihuni, Kenya.

We trained community members on the symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention of COVID-19. Due to public gathering concerns, we worked with trusted community leaders to gather a select group of community members who would then relay the information learned to the rest of their family and friends.

We covered essential hygiene lessons:

- Demonstrations on how to build a simple handwashing station

- Proper handwashing technique

- The importance of using soap and clean water for handwashing

- Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces including at the water point.

We covered COVID-19-specific guidance in line with national and international standards:

- Information on the symptoms and transmission routes of COVID-19

- What social distancing is and how to practice it

- How to cough into an elbow

- Alternative ways to greet people without handshakes, fist bumps, etc.

- How to make and properly wear a facemask.

During training, we installed a new handwashing station with soap near the community’s water point, along with a sign with reminders of what we covered.

Due to the rampant spread of misinformation about COVID-19, we also dedicated time to a question and answer session to help debunk rumors about the disease and provide extra information where needed.

We continue to stay in touch with this community as the pandemic progresses. We want to ensure their water point remains functional and their community stays informed about the virus.

Water access, sanitation, and hygiene are at the crux of disease prevention. You can directly support our work on the frontlines of COVID-19 prevention in all of the communities we serve while maintaining their access to safe, clean, and reliable water.




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!