WORLD VISION KENYA ’s “LESS STEPS FOR WATER RUN ” BRINGS HOPE TO SALGAA ’s CHILDREN.
BY JUDITH MWAI.
Nairobi, Kenya
Hundreds of participants took part in World Vision Kenya’s Less Steps for Water Run, an initiative aimed at bringing clean water closer to children in Salgaa, Nakuru County. The event, held at World Vision Kenya’s National Office in Karen, raised funds to provide water access to six more schools, ensuring healthier and brighter futures for children in the region.
For many children in Salgaa, fetching water is a daily struggle, with some walking up to six kilometers to access water. This not only affects their education but also exposes them to waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. To address this challenge, World Vision Kenya launched a sustainable water initiative under the Inuka Angaza Fund in June 2021.
Impact of World Vision Kenya’s Water Initiatives
Through strategic collaborations with Nakuru County, KenGen, corporate partners, and generous well-wishers, the organization has already achieved key milestones, including:
Providing clean water to 695 children at Mimwaita and Gicheha Primary Schools.
Installing two 30,000-litre rainwater harvesting tanks for reliable water supply.
Expanding the Umoja Water Project, which now serves over 2,000 people with safe drinking water within a 30-minute round trip.
“These initiatives have transformed hygiene, health, and education, allowing children to focus on learning rather than walking long distances for water,” said Gilbert Kamanga, National Director of World Vision Kenya. “The funds raised today will help us reach six more schools, ensuring more children in Salgaa no longer have to struggle for clean water.”
The Umoja Water Project: Transforming Communities
The Umoja Water Project, developed in collaboration with the Nakuru County Government, has significantly improved access to clean water by:
Providing safe drinking water to 2,079 people, reducing reliance on unsafe sources.
Equipping Kayanet Primary School and Umoja ECD with clean water, benefiting 390 children.
Establishing a modern automated water kiosk for convenient access to water.
Constructing an 8km pipeline to connect homes, schools, and early childhood centers.
Beyond water access, World Vision Kenya is also building a Community Resource Centre at Belbur Primary School, which will offer digital literacy, life skills training, mentorship, and counseling for adolescents, youth, and women.
A Call to Action
Dr. David Githanga, Board Chair of World Vision Kenya, expressed gratitude to supporters: “Your generosity is giving the children of Salgaa a future where they can focus on education and well-being instead of searching for water. Together, we have taken fewer steps for water, so they can too.”
With the funds raised from the Less Steps for Water Run, World Vision Kenya is set to expand its life-changing interventions, ensuring that no child in Salgaa has to choose between education and access to clean water.
