Residents of Oloosidan village in Kajiado East constituency are celebrating improved access to clean and safe drinking water following the installation of a solar-powered water purification system in the area.
The project, implemented by Pharmacie Humanitaire Internationale (PHI) in partnership with the Neighbours Initiative Alliance (NIA), uses solar energy to power the purification process, providing a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to the community’s long-standing water challenges.
According to Christel Badoz, Vice President of Pharmacie Humanitaire Internationale, the purifier developed in France removes all viruses and bacteria that cause waterborne diseases, making the water completely safe for drinking.
“Our main objective is to improve community health by eradicating waterborne diseases through the purification of contaminated water,” said Badoz.
The solarised system can pump water from a depth of up to five meters and produce 300 litres per hour.
Before its installation, residents relied on contaminated river water, which frequently led to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The new system now supplies purified water to hundreds of households, nearby schools, and the Isinya Health Centre.
Kenny Matampash, founder of Neighbours Initiative Alliance, said the project was inspired by alarming reports of waterborne illnesses from the Isinya Health Centre.
“Residents and their livestock have been depending on stagnant river water, which is often contaminated by industrial waste from nearby factories. We decided to donate these solar-powered purifiers to help address this crisis,” said Matampash.
He revealed that 10 community groups across Kajiado and Narok counties will benefit from the solarised water pumps. Six groups in Kajiado and four in Narok.
George Kimiti, Kajiado County Director for Natural Resources, thanked the donors and urged residents to use the system responsibly and conserve water resources, warning that rivers may soon dry up due to climate change.
At the Isinya Health Centre, Dr. Jackson Sitoya, a doctor welcomed the innovation, noting that it would greatly reduce cases of waterborne illnesses.
“We have seen a rise in cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and trachoma cases due to the use of unsafe water. With this purifier, residents now have clean water, which will prevent such diseases as prevention is better than cure,” said Sitoya.
For residents like Peninah Nasieku, the purifier is life-changing.
“This innovation has transformed our lives. We now have access to clean water right at our doorstep, unlike before when we had to walk 10 to 20 kilometres to fetch water,” she said.
Oloosidan Assistant Chief, Richard Mukenga, also lauded the initiative, noting that it has eased the financial burden on locals.
“We used to buy a 20-litre jerrycan of water at Sh100, which was unaffordable for many. This innovation will help us cut these costs and improve our living standards,” said Mukenga.
By Diana Meneto
