This project is a part of our shared program with Safe Water and Sustainable Hygiene Initiative (SAWASHI). Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).
Background Information
Luyeshe Community consists of people from Kenyan society’s middle class; most are peasant farmers who grow sugarcane as their main cash crop and seasonal crops such as maize, beans, and other vegetables. People of this community have a certain set of beliefs and traditions which are used as a compass to guide them through harmonious and peaceful days. For instance, some of the more interesting beliefs and traditions include:
1. A father-in-law and daughter-in-law are not allowed to greet each other directly by using their hands.
2. Latrines cannot be shared between in-laws.
3. Parents are not allowed to visit nor stay in the house of their daughter or son for more than three hours.
Every family in this community has a traditional structure of a husband, wife and children. The society has set the roles for each as the following: As a husband, one is expected to provide security for his family, provide shelter, and provide food and basic needs. As a wife, one is expected to carry out all household chores such as cooking, fetching water for the family’s use, and maintaining good hygiene and sanitation standards for the family. A wife must also help her husband with manual jobs like farming. The children are expected to help their parents by also participating in manual jobs like looking after livestock, collecting firewood, and fetching water.
Most of the Luyeshe people are Christians who go to different churches like the Friends Church, Seventh Day Adventist (S.D.A) Church, Catholic Church, Salvation Army Church and PEFA Church. Due to the level of poverty in this community, most children go to a public primary school called Shirongo Primary School or St. Martine Secondary School.
The need in Luyeshe Community was introduced by the chief who sadly passed away last year before he could see this project implemented.
The Current Source
Locals are still trying to use a well constructed by the Kenya Finland Company in 1991. Kenya Finland Company installed a Nira pump on this hand-dug well but never considered the nonexistent supply chain for its repair parts. Since 1991, this pump has worn down and is barely functioning; it takes an extremely long time to pump an adequate supply of water. The well pad is also cracked, allowing dirt and runoff inside.
Women and children will bring clay pots or 20-liter jerrycans to fetch water. The clay containers are normally set aside for drinking while the plastic ones are used for cooking. Unfortunately, community members are not treating water before drinking, which has resulted in outbreaks of typhoid and diarrhea.
Sanitation Situation
Over 75% of households report to have pit latrines, but most of these lack privacy without doors. There is also a noticeable odor because the holes need to be covered. After the initial visit to this community, it was obvious that open defecation is an issue that needs to be solved.
No hand-washing stations were seen, but many households have constructed dish racks and clotheslines to safely dry their belongings. Garbage is generally disposed of in surrounding banana plantations.
Edith Wanyama, a local woman, says that "everyone in this community has tried to observe good practices of hygiene and sanitation, although hand-washing is an issue. This is so, because they keep on forgetting to maintain the hand-washing containers!" Edith and her community are ready and willing to participate in upcoming hygiene and sanitation training from which they should greatly benefit.
Two hand-washing stations will also be installed in the form of “tippy taps.” Tippy taps are containers tied to ropes, which tip to pour water for hand-washing. Community members will learn how and when to use these stations during hygiene and sanitation training.
Training Sessions
Community members will be trained for three days using the PHAST (Participatory Health and Sanitation Training) method. Training topics include:
- Proper water handling and storage
- Latrine use and the risks of open defecation
- The steps of hand-washing
- Proper food handling, preparation, and storage
People are very excited for this project, and have promised to do everything in their power to maintain a renewed water source. They are forming and preparing a water user committee that will oversee well management and maintenance.
This well is located right inside the local church compound where a school was also started five years ago. Therefore, this project will also benefit both the school and the church. The community members agreed that the school's head teacher together with the village elder should take lead roles in the formation of the water user committee.
One of the things that bring about the failure of a water project is a lack of commitment by the beneficiaries. Many families will often avoid paying a small fee to provide maintenance for a well or water system. This problem has been acknowledged by the Luyeshe community members, who have already promised to responsibly pay the amount decided by the water user committee.
Project Results
Training
The training was held at Shilonga Primary school compound. It was planned based on the specific training needs identified during the baseline. The participants were selected from each beneficiary household where at least one member from each household was to attend. Teachers from the school where the project was located were also selected to attend training. The meeting was attended by both men and women from the community with women making up the majority. The attendance was average where most households set to benefit had a representative. The school was represented in the training by the school head as well as teachers. The community members actively participated in the training exercise by asking and answering questions.
Topics covered during the training included:
- Role of the community and the development organization
- The Common diseases in the community
- Problem analysis
- Good and bad hygiene habits
- Disease transmission routes
- Hand washing
Tools used during the training included group discussions, demonstrations, and opportunities for questions and answers.
As a result of the training more community members were challenged by the Water User Committee chairman that every household must maintain hygiene and sanitation by having and using the sanitation facilities in their homesteads such as a latrine, hand washing point, dish rack, compost, and bathing room.
Alfayo Tindo, a local farmer, commented, "Our children have been suffering frequently from typhoid and diarrhea but we never knew the cause. This is because we lacked the hygiene and sanitation knowledge. We will put this knowledge into practice hoping for a great change." Thank you for helping make that hope a reality!
Well Rehabilitation
The construction work started by uninstalling existing worn out pump and scabbling of the old surface of the existing well pad leaving a rough surface. This followed by the plastering of the pad by apply a mixture of cement and sand. The finishing of the well pad was done by lining the plastered well pad with a coat of cement mixed with waterproof cement. This was then left to dry for several days.
Borehole development was done through airlifting by a compressor on site to clean the well by removing cuttings and other particles. Test pumping of this well was conducted using a submersible pump. Constant rate testing was used where pumping was done at a constant discharge over the period of time.
Pump installation followed the test pumping exercise where an Afridev pump base was installed. This was followed by installing the riser main PVC pipes fitted with a cylinder at the bottom end. These were then fitted with anchor ropes and lowered into the well to the desired depths and later tied onto the steel plate on the pump head. Rods are then fitted into the well, handle placed, and cover fitted onto the pump head.
The community provided with the required materials and tools used during the well pad construction. The community members participated by assisting the implementation team. The major challenge experienced during this project was weather. Heavy rainfall disrupted the pad construction and leading to the damage of the fresh concrete which had to be repaired.
Lydia Shilongo, a female teacher at the school said, "We appreciate the assistance accorded to us by rehabilitating our water project. Students and teachers used to fetch and carry water from their respective homes which was tiresome. This source will help both the community and the school in accessing clean water and reduce risk of disease associated with contaminated water."
The community formed a Water User Committee whose role is to oversee the operation and maintenance of the water point. The members resolved to contribute towards the sustaining of the project. The community will collaborate with the school in managing the water project. SAWASHI will provide constant monitoring of the project and provide repair services in times of need through our Operation and Maintenance team.
Handing Over
The community members, teachers and students assembled around the well on the handing over day. SAWASHI joined as an organization and commissioned the project officially and handed it over to the management committee to oversee its operation and maintenance. Leaders from our organization gave a brief talk to the students, teachers and community members gathered around. A community and school representative, on behalf of the members present, gave their sincere appreciation for the great favor accorded to them.
The well serves both the school and the community. The school administration together with the community members provided a good and conducive environment for the implementation of the project. With clean and safe water in this community, it will save time, reduce waterborne diseases, and improve the hygiene and sanitation of the entire community. This project is a boost to this school since they had already put in place hand washing stations within the school but lacked a reliable source of clean and adequate water.
Thank you to all who made this project possible. Thank You for unlocking potential!
