By D, KNA
Kisumu County has launched a school-based safe water programme aimed at improving the health and learning conditions of thousands of learners across the county.
The initiative is implemented by the County Department of Education, Technical Training, Innovation, and Social Services in partnership with development partner LifeStraw, following a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025. The partnership seeks to increase access to safe drinking water and reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases in public Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across Kisumu County.
Through the partnership, selected schools that lack access to safe water will receive LifeStraw community water purifiers. These point-of-use filters eliminate microbial contaminants and turbidity from water instantly, providing safe drinking water for learners.
“As we launch this programme in our beloved county, I am flagging off the first consignment of 879 LifeStraw water purifiers destined for 282 schools spread across the entire county,” said Kisumu CECM for Education, Mr John Awiti.
The LifeStraw programme is a multi-faceted initiative focused on providing equitable access to safe drinking water, primarily through schools and emergency response efforts.
In the first phase of implementation, selected schools in the sub-counties have benefited from the consignment as follows: Kadibo – 15 schools received 35 units; Kisumu Central – 37 schools got 148 units; Kisumu East – 56 schools received 152 units; Kisumu West – 50 schools got 152 units; Muhoroni – 31 schools received 98 units; Nyakach – 12 schools got 34 units; Nyando – 24 schools received 63 units; and Seme – 57 schools received 197 units.
Mr Awiti noted that deliveries will be followed by training sessions to be conducted in every school receiving the purifiers. A team comprising LifeStraw and county officials will visit the schools between February 9 and 20 to train staff and officially launch the programme in each school.
The CECM emphasised that the initiative envisions a Kisumu where all children in pre-primary schools, and by extension the primary schools in which they are attached, have access to quality water in the coming years.
“This programme will safeguard the health of our young learners and support their learning by providing access to safe drinking water,” Mr. Awiti said.
The programme is expected to significantly reduce waterborne diseases among learners while fostering a culture of hygiene and sanitation in schools.
