Transformation in Mitero, Kenya

Mitero Primary School is the only place for its 100+ students to attend class for many kilometers. Nestled in rural Laikipia County, and not far from Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the community comprises over 500 households, accommodating nearly 4,000 residents who reside in close proximity to the school. Before access to clean water, this beautiful community depended on seasonal and shallow boreholes that were a 2-hour walk away, and even when there was water in these wells, they were often unreliable or in disrepair.

When we first met Mitero in 2023, the Primary school already had water storage tanks and some roof guttering, which they utilized for collecting rainwater, but these tanks fell significantly short of meeting the school’s water requirements, and the water was not treated after collection, making it very unsafe for consumption.

In addition to the school’s immense challenges with safe water, the school was also unable to maintain its government feeding program. Insufficient water supply necessitated purchasing water whenever funds were available, resulting in periods when the children went without food entirely.

The scarcity of water also resulted in a decline of livestock numbers, the inability to cook, clean and prepare food, exorbitant charges when purchasing water from vendors, and the prevalence of waterborne diseases due to consuming contaminated surface water. These issues have compounded the hardships faced by the students and surrounding community. In December of 2023, Well Aware constructed a new, solar-powered deep borehole that we knew held the potential to transform the entire Mitero community. And over the past 3 years, that is exactly what we’ve witnessed. Community members are no longer forced to walk long distances to contaminated sources. Both the school and the community saw an immediate decline in waterborne illnesses, enabling children to stay healthy and in the classroom. Mitero Primary is now also able to sustain its feeding program, and the community reports having healthy livestock that supports the local economy.

Moreover, Mitero’s new water well and distribution scheme addresses all water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) requirements for both the community and the school, allowing the construction of additional classroom blocks to accommodate even more students eager for an education. Today, their school enrollment has risen to 180+ students, with 11 full time staff/ teachers.

With their strong sense of unity and harmony, Mitero is poised for an incredible journey of continuous community development with the attainment of clean, dependable water resources.

“Every conversation with a community member during our visits has been filled with gratitude and sincere appreciation for the profound impact this system has had on their lives. Witnessing the transformation that has occurred for these children and the entire community, as they gained access to clean, abundant, and sustainable water, fills us with a sense of limitless potential.” – Joe Mbagia, Well Aware Community Manager

Meet some of the students from Mitero, Kenya!

Shanice is 12 years old, and some of her duties at home include fetching water, washing utensils and clothes, and helping her father with their grazing cows and goats. She walks 1 km to school, and her previous water source was a 2km walk. Shanice loves going to school because she admires how her teachers have instilled good values and discipline in her and her peers. Her favorite subjects are math and Swahili, and she hopes to be a teacher when she grows up. Shanice no longer has to walk 2 km to fetch water and is able to spend more time focusing on her dreams!

Perpetual is a 13-year-old student who loves studying computer science because it is a valuable skill used all over the world and connects the world together. At school, she used to drink collected, untreated rainwater if there was any, and at home she walked to a river for water collection. Perpetual wants to be a doctor when she grows up to help sick people. Her previous walk for water was 8 km from her home to a river. With clean water, she says everything has changed. “Water is life. With it, waterborne illnesses are no more.”

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