Kibra, Kawangware residents to benefit from funded water projects

Basic hygiene and sanitation have been two of the ways to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, water has been a scarcity for most resident of Nairobi, especially in the informal settlements, thereby posing a great risk of infection.

Safaricom foundation has come to the help of residents of Korogocho, Kawangware, Kibra and Mathare by funding water projects geared towards prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

The water projects being implemented in partnership with Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), Provide International and Ushirika School at a cost of over KES 5.7 million will benefit an estimated 90,000 residents from the four settlement areas.

The project with SHOFCO involves provision of clean water supply for 45 days in Kibra, Mathare and Kawangware as well as cash transfers to 500 vulnerable families.

Additionally, in partnership with Ushirika School, the Foundation has installed a 10,000 litre water tank targeting Laini Saba residents in Kibra. Three water points have also been set up to also ensure that vendors at the nearby Biashara market offer their services in hygienic conditions.

In Korogocho, the Foundation has worked with Provide International to install nine 3,000 litre water tanks targeting all the nine villages within the area. At least 50 handwashing areas have been set up to promote hygiene.

The United Nations Development Programme estimates that close to 21 million people especially in rural and urban slums in Kenya lack access to clean, safe water leaving them to rely on unimproved water sources. Additionally, 35.5million Kenyans use unimproved sanitation solutions, with majority especially in the slums relying on secondary vendors whose sources may be contaminated.

“We are glad to partner with Safaricom Foundation in supporting these communities. Clean and reliable water supply in the city’s informal settlements will go a long way in successfully curbing the spread of coronavirus in these settlements,” said Kennedy Odede, Chief Executive Officer, SHOFCO.

Safaricom has so far donated KES200 Million through the Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations towards providing Cash transfers for food to support vulnerable communities as well as thermal cameras worth KES 10 million to the Ministry of Health installed in various border entry points.