Mr. Muthusi Celebrates Clean Water for His Students!

October, 2025

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for teacher Simon Muthusi and his students. Since then, the 573 students and teachers have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"We like fetching water here because it is within the school grounds and it is clean, preventing exposure to water-related infections that would occur in the past."

Before the Rain Tank Installation

Like many teachers in Kenya, 43-year-old Simon Muthusi was responsible for ensuring there was sufficient water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task consumed his and his students' time, with negative effects on them.

Students carrying water from unknown sources before the rain tank installation.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many students suffered from waterborne diseases, which created health problems that affected their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant they wasted time collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Mr. Muthusi, in particular, it lessened his opportunity to be fully engaged in teaching.

"We experienced a lot of water scarcity in the school because we only had one plastic rainwater tank, which could not harvest adequate water for all of us. Therefore, we had to purchase water at about Ksh 60,000 ($465 USD) annually, which drained the school's paltry resources. We also had to request learners to carry water from home, which was mostly acquired from contaminated sources and stored in unclean jerrycans, exposing them to water-related infections such as typhoid, amoebiasis, and dysentery," shared Mr. Muthusi.

"Getting water in the past was a difficult ordeal because we had to rely on the purchased water from the municipality, which at times would be broken or could not supply water due to various issues, including drought. We would request the young learners to bring water to school, which was a daunting task considering that most of them live far away from school. They would arrive late or fail to come to school when there was no water to carry from home," he continued.

Since the Rain Tank Installation

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to this school community and its future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Reliable and clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic possibilities, allowing people to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

"We are no longer exposed to gastrointestinal cases like vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachaches. We are glad that we have enough clean water in our school that can sustain us during the entire time we are in school," celebrated Mr. Muthusi.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for the Kandwia Primary School community. This is just the first chapter of their story as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this project to ensure the water is always flowing and safe to consume. We inspect the system hardware, track water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water quality samples to identify risks. We work with our team on the ground to resolve them.

You gave Mr. Muthusi and his students a crucial tool for achieving their dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, their enthusiasm and courage will help them fulfill their dreams.

"Our students' lives have become better because they have adequate water in the school throughout their stay, and they no longer have to carry water from home; thus, they can concentrate on their studies. Their meals are prepared on time, and they drink clean water whenever they need to because water is just a few minutes away," said Mr. Muthusi.

"They are engaging in sports actively because there is clean water to drink. Our learners are also comfortable when they're in school because there is sufficient water for cleaning latrines and classrooms. They can also wash their hands and clean their utensils without fear of lacking water," he continued.

"We are very proud of our school for completing such a milestone of ensuring water availability has been achieved. Our pupils are coming to school every day and are ready to focus on the day's activities because they are no longer carrying water from home. This waterpoint has not only provided water but also created a sense of hope for a better future for this young generation," he concluded.

Mr. Muthusi helps his students collect water from the rain tank.


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kandwia Primary School maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Kandwia Primary School – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.

Project Status



Project Type: Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 573 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Oct 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 09/09/2025

Project Features


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Community Profile

The 573 students and staff of Kandwia Primary School have a disheartening experience, burdened by the many things they cannot accomplish due to the water crisis they face daily.

"Without access to clean drinking water, students fail to stay healthy due to waterborne diseases, fail to hold their concentration for long periods of time due to dehydration, and fail to maintain proper hygiene standards. On top of that, the school cannot run programs if they cannot provide water to pupils, faculty, and their families. This impacts the education system as it limits opportunities for growth and development," said field officer Jefferson Mutie.

The school has a couple of small plastic rainwater tanks on its campus. Still, due to the infrequent rain in this semi-arid region and their limited capacity, they cannot hold enough water to meet the school's needs and run dry quickly. When the tanks sit empty, students must collect water at home from unknown sources and bring it to school with them. It is risky to consume this water, and it often leaves students with water-related illnesses that cause them needless suffering and make them miss valuable learning time. As a last resort, the school pays for trucks to deliver water from unknown sources, but it is a financial expense the school can not afford, which steals from other needs.

"I love this school so much. I believe this is the best school, just that we lack water, which is [a] basic need here. I have [a] hard time trying to control such a crowd with minimal drops of water. The pupils have a big trust in me, and whenever I fail to have water in school, I feel like one big failure being looked at by over 500 pupils," said teacher Erick Muthwii (shown above).

"The water situation in my school makes my days in school very tough. I do not like being requested to come along with water in school. I remember one day, I tripped and fell as I was coming to school, and my books got wet. I really hated the school that day. I hope to see a miracle whereby we have plenty of water in the school," said 12-year-old Monicah V., shown above carrying water to school.

The administration is passionate about providing the best education possible for their students. Children dread school; they don't have the capacity to dream of a brighter future, weighed down by the challenges they face.

Installing a much larger tank will allow more water to be collected and stored for much longer so it can meet everyone's needs. Then, students and staff will have time and energy to focus on learning instead of constantly searching for and collecting water.

Water at schools is unique, which is why we need unique solutions.

The Proposed Solution, Determined Together...

At The Water Project, everyone has a part in conversations and solutions. We operate in transparency, believing it benefits everyone. We expect reliability from one another as well as our water solutions. Everyone involved makes this possible through hard work and dedication.

In a joint discovery process, community members determine their most advantageous water solution alongside our technical experts. Read more specifics about this solution on the What We're Building tab of this project page. Then, community members lend their support by collecting needed construction materials (sometimes for months ahead of time!), providing labor alongside our artisans, sheltering and feeding the builders, and supplying additional resources.

Water Access for Everyone

This water project is one piece in a large puzzle. In Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, we're working toward complete coverage of reliable, maintained water sources that guarantee public access now and in the future within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. One day, we hope to report that this has been achieved!

Training on Health, Hygiene & More

With the community's input, we've identified topics where training will increase positive health outcomes at personal, household, and community levels. We'll coordinate with them to find the best training date. Some examples of what we train communities on are:

  • Improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits
  • Safe water handling, storage & treatment
  • Disease prevention and proper handwashing
  • Income-generation
  • Community leadership, governance, & election of a water committee
  • Operation and maintenance of the water point

Handwashing Stations

Alongside each water source in Southeast Kenya schools, we also provide three new handwashing stations fitted with three taps each, allowing nine students to wash their hands at once. These will allow everyone at the school to wash their hands without running water. Handwashing is so important to help prevent future water-related illnesses in the school community.

The student health club will maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap (which we will teach the school community how to make during the training!).

Project Updates


October, 2024: Kandwia Primary School Rainwater Catchment Project Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Kandwia Primary School in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their 104,000-liter rain tank! Additionally, we installed handwashing stations and trained students and staff on sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to thrive!

"Coming to school will also be much easier because I will no longer be required to carry water. Our meals will also be prepared on time and I will be drinking clean water whenever I feel thirsty because this waterpoint is within the school premises. Clean water means I will not be contracting infections like stomach upsets or dysentery caused by the untreated water that we fetched from boreholes or scoop holes; thus, I will be able to attend school every day," said 13-year-old student Charles.

Charles standing near the completed tank.

Rain Tank Construction

First, we held a meeting with all parents and the school's headteacher to plan the project. The parents agreed to collect construction materials like sand, rocks, and water. We complemented their materials by delivering the expertise, tools, lumber, metal, cement, and a gutter system.

Construction is a community affair.

This tank is a whopping 104,000 liters, as it rarely rains in Southeastern Kenya. The more water the tank can store during the seasonal rains, the more water available through the dry months for the students!

Construction for this large rain tank is much like constructing a concrete house. First, we leveled the ground for foundation excavation. Next, we laid alternating layers of rocks and mortar up to seven feet high for the tank's outer walls. With such sturdy construction (the walls are three feet thick!), the tank will stand for a long time.

Laying the foundation.

We built a reinforced concrete column in the tank's center to sustain the roof and prevent it from caving in. We plastered the walls inside and out with waterproof cement and installed guttering into the tank. Finally, we installed the roof of the tank, made of iron sheets and timber with vents to allow rainwater into the tank from the gutters.

The completed tank with a roof and cleaning hatch.

"My students will be drinking clean water here in school, which does not expose them to water-related maladies like amoeba or typhoid, which will improve their health and enable them to attend their classes every day and achieve better grades. They will also be cleaning their classrooms by sprinkling classes with bare floors and mopping those with concrete floors. This will create a comfortable learning space. We are also glad that we now have enough water to irrigate the vegetables in the school farm, which will provide a balanced diet for the learners," said 48-year-old Justin Muthui.

Mr. Muthui with students by the new rain tank.

Handwashing Stations

We delivered three new handwashing stations in time for training. Each new station has three taps so that nine students can wash their hands simultaneously.

Community Education

We trained 454 students and teachers on health, hygiene, and sanitation topics. These included student health club activities, disease prevention, personal hygiene, and handwashing. We also covered water hygiene, latrine hygiene, and soapmaking.

Learning about proper handwashing.

"The attendance of the pupils was as expected since almost all the pupils were present. The participation was commendable since all the pupils and teachers were attentive and asked many questions regarding hygiene and sanitation. Teachers ensured that all [of] the pupils were well behaved and actively participated," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.

Students learn to make soap.

During the training session on good and bad hygiene behaviors, a teacher came up with a song that promotes daily hygiene before pupils go to school. The pupils were excited and enjoyed the song.

Mwende.

"Now we have good information on hygiene and sanitation; thus, disease incidences will go down, as well as absenteeism. We will teach our guardians the same, and hygiene will greatly improve in our community. We are so grateful for this training because it has enlightened us as far as hygiene and sanitation are concerned. The soapmaking skill is also a vital thing that will greatly help in improving the general hygiene of our classes, and the use of the latrine disinfectant will eradicate the bad odor in the latrines," shared 13-year-old student health club president Mwende.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




August, 2024: Kandwia Primary School Rainwater Catchment Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Kandwia Primary School costs students time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future! 




Project Photos



Contributors

North Dunedin Baptist Church
Sisters of St. Benedict
Many individual donors