Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Aug 2017

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 11/08/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

This project is a part of our shared program with Western Water And Sanitation Forum (WEWASAFO). Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).

Welcome to the School

Kakubudu Primary School has a student population of 604. It employs 12 teachers and four support staff. (Editor's Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people.  This community would be a good candidate for a second project in the future so adequate water is available. To learn more, click here.)

Children wake up very early to prepare for school. Upper classes must be at school at 7 AM for morning study hall. Then, they leave again to look for water for cleaning their classrooms and toilets, and for cooking. Thereafter, they get back on track for their normal classes which stretch from 8 AM to 10 AM. After break, they have class until lunch at 12:45 PM, when they return back home to eat with their families. Afternoon classes begin again at 2 PM. Later, they break for games at 3 PM until dismissal at 4 PM.

Water Situation

There is no water source at Kakubudu Primary School.

Students are thus sent out with jerrycans to fetch water throughout the day. They go to an unprotected spring, where water is highly contaminated by erosion, dirty rainwater, animals, and human activities. There are insects visibly living in the water. The water is further contaminated as students dunk their dirty plastic containers to fill them. Furthermore, this spring is one kilometer away from the school.

When these pupils have to fetch water, the community members do not allow them to fetch water first. The community feels they have that right since they have other engagements to get to. The pupils are then forced to wait for a long time and as a result, study time slips away. When they eventually go back to school, they are punished for being late for classes. Some students fear that punishment so much that they decide not to return to school at all.

When delivered back to school, water is stored in large plastic drums.

The school reports numerous absences due to waterborne disease outbreaks among students. Illnesses include typhoid, amoeba and diarrhea-diseases. According to Headteacher Solomon Busumu, "parents are really using a lot of money treating their children."

Sanitation Situation

There are 14 pit latrines made of bricks and iron sheets. Six of these are in good condition, five are almost full, and three are condemned. A couple of the 14 are also missing doors. Because of these poor latrine conditions, open defecation is an issue on school grounds.

There are no hand-washing stations for students or staff. Garbage is piled in the back of school property and burned on a daily basis. The sanitation teacher told our staff that "our people perish because of lack of knowledge."

Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training and Hand-Washing Stations

Training will be held for two days. The facilitator will use PHAST (participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation), ABCD (asset-based community development), CTC (child to child), lectures, group discussions, and handouts to teach health topics and ways to promote good practices within the school. The CTC method will prepare students to lead other students into healthy habits, as well as kickstart a CTC club for the school. This CTC club will oversee the new facilities, such as hand-washing stations, and make sure they are kept clean and in working condition. The two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school, and the club will fill them with water on a daily basis and make sure there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.

Plans: Rainwater Catchment Tank

A 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will be constructed on school grounds. Teachers, students, and parents will gather the materials needed for this project, including sand, ballast, bricks, and hardcore. This contribution will fuel a sense of responsibility for the school and community to take care of their new facilities. Once materials are mobilized, the WEWASAFO team will arrive to lead the construction effort.

With adequate clean water, the school will have water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hand-washing. The school will no longer have to rely on the small amounts of (often contaminated) water fetched by students. So much time will be reallocated to these students' education!

Plans: VIP Latrines

Two triple-door latrines will be constructed, providing three new latrines for each gender. Latrine materials will be mobilized the same way as the tank, ensuring the school feels these facilities are truly theirs. And with a rainwater catchment tank nearby, there will be enough water to keep them clean.

School administration and parents are positive that with these new facilities and training, their students’ academic performance will improve. Students will be healthy and empowered to focus on what’s important!

Project Updates


November, 2018: A Year Later: Kakubudu Primary School

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to construct a rainwater tank for Kakubudu Primary School in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories. Read more...




August, 2017: Kakubudu Primary School Project Complete

Kakubudu Primary School in Kenya now has a new source of safe, clean water thanks to your generous donation. A new rainwater catchment system has been built, and there are now six new latrines being used. Two hand-washing stations have been installed, and the entire student body has received training in sanitation and hygiene. Just imagine the difference these resources will make in the lives of these children!

You made it happen, now help keep the water flowing! Join our team of monthly donors and help us maintain this rainwater catchment tank and many other projects.

The report below from our partner gives the latest details of the project. We also just updated the project page with new pictures.

Project Result: New Knowledge

We organized for hygiene and sanitation training through the headteacher. We discussed it with him and decided it was best that he select the student leaders who would attend. He also contacted influential teachers and administration to be in the staff room those two days.

18 students, two teachers, and two board members ended up coming.

1 kenya4656 training participants

We taught an entire lesson on management and maintenance of the new tank and latrine facilities. Regular checking and cleaning of the gutter system is a must! It’s also important to treat the water while it is still in the tank. We also covered topics including but not limited to:

– Water pollution and water treatment

– Personal and environmental hygiene

– Group dynamics, leadership, and governance

– Forming an effective CTC (child to child) club

– Hand-washing

We used a number of different ways to teach the above topics, while demonstrations were used for hand-washing and tooth-brushing. We facilitated group discussions and presentations. The students also received handouts which will help them teach hygiene and sanitation to their peers.

4 kenya4656 hand-washing

The child to child club will include both students and teachers who want to take responsibility for spreading the message of good health and hygiene among their peers. They will also be responsible for taking care of the new hand-washing stations, making sure they are always filled with water and that a cleaning agent like soap or ash is available. A water user committee has also been formed by parents and school administration, which will be responsible for overseeing and maintaining the new facilities.

After we were through, the students approached us and mentioned that they thought the two hand-washing stations we were delivering aren't enough. We helped them construct supplementary stations out of clean containers, sticks, and string.

Project Result: Hand-Washing Stations

The two hand-washing stations were delivered to school and handed over to the CTC club. They will teach other students how to properly wash their hands at these stations, and will make sure there is always soap or ash available. Now the school has the stations they need, and they have the water to fill them!

14 kenya4656 hand-washing stations

Students are using their new hand-washing stations!

Project Result: VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of six new VIP (ventilated improved pit) latrines. These latrines are easy to use and easy to clean. And with a rainwater catchment tank, there should be enough water to keep them clean all the time!

8 kenya4656 finished latrines

Thumbs up for new latrines!

Project Result: Rainwater Catchment Tank

Construction for this 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank began at the end of April.

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. All the while, women cooked meals for the artisans, and the school provided accommodations for the artisans during their work.

Rainwater tank construction began with clearance of the site: excavating the soil within the required measurements to make level ground for the tank foundation. The foundation was cast by laying hardcore on a level ground and then reinforcing it using steel, concrete and waterproof cement.

6 kenya4656 building a solid foundaction for rain tank

Large and small stones are placed to make the ground a solid place for a tank foundation.

As the foundation was being lain, both the drawing pipe as well as the washout pipe were affixed. The wall was built with ferro-cement techniques through six layers. The inner wall was plastered while rough casting was done on the outer part.

After the superstructure had been given enough time to settle, the dome followed. The manhole cover was fitted, inlet pipes were connected to the roof gutters, inlet screens, ventilation pipes (breathers) and overflow pipes were all done to standards.

Finally, the catchment area was done by building a staircase. Drainage was set up there, and then the tank was allowed 14 days to undergo complete curing before it was cleaned and handed over to Kakubudu Primary School. It already has some water in it!

On behalf of her entire school, Teacher Everlyne Mmbone said "The 50,000-liter tank is going to help our children improve on their performance in school, not wasting time looking for water. We are grateful for the support given to us... We are praying God to continue blessing them so that they continue supporting others to access clean, safe water in schools and communities!"




Project Photos


Project Type

For a rainwater collection system, we build gutters around a building with good, clean roofing to channel rain where we want it. From there, the water falls through a filtered inlet pipe into a high-capacity storage tank, the size of which is based on population and average rainfall patterns. In the tank, water can be stored for months, where it is easily treated and accessed. Learn more here!


A Year Later: Kakubudu Primary School

November, 2018

Kakubudu Primary School is clean and the students spend the whole day in class, all thanks to the rainwater tank installed last year.

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Kakubudu Primary School.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kakubudu Primary School maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to construct a rainwater tank for Kakubudu Primary School in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – and we’re excited to share this one from local team member Janet Kayi with you.

Good hygiene practice is evident upon visiting Kakubudu Primary School. When we entered the compound, we saw handwashing facilities placed at strategic points for every student to access throughout the day. There were children fetching water with their drinking cups from the treated water tank. The compound was clean, as were the classrooms and toilets.

"Toilets and classrooms are cleaned every morning before lessons begin. As a result, dust has been reduced in the classrooms and around the compound," 13-year-old student Juliana Nekesa said.

Field Officer Janet Kayi and Juliana Nekesa

This is attributed to having great water access thanks to the tank installed last year. Students are no longer getting sick from waterborne diseases and are thus doing better academically as a result of the project, Juliana added.

Construction of the tank is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project is committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by donors like you, allows us to maintain our relationships with communities by visiting up to 4 times each year to ensure that the water points are safe and reliable.

This is just one of the many ways that we monitor projects and communicate with you. Additionally, you can always check the functionality status and our project map to see how all of our water points are performing, based on our consistent monitoring data.

One project is just a drop in the bucket towards ending the global water crisis, but the ripple effects of this project are truly astounding. This tank at Kakubudu Primary School is changing many lives.

Students no longer waste time fetching water each day, Headteacher Solomon Busumu said. They use the time to study, a change that is leading to improved outcomes in the classroom. In addition, student hygiene is improving and behaviors like handwashing after using the bathroom are common, thanks to the provision of reliable water and handwashing stations. All of these changes are making the school a better place.

Solomon Busumu

"The image of the school has changed because of the facilities and especially the tank, which is helping the school to store water," Mr. Busumu said.

This is only possible because of the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, our local teams, the community, and you. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and support their journey with safe water.

Read more about The Water Promise and how you can help.

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 Kakubudu 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 Kakubudu 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.