Residents of Oloosidan village in Kajiado East constituency are celebrating a breakthrough in access to safe drinking water following the installation of a solar-powered purification system. The innovation, developed in France and introduced locally through Pharmacie Humanitaire Internationale (PHI) in partnership with the Neighbours Initiative Alliance (NIA), promises to end years of reliance on contaminated river water.
The purifier, powered entirely by solar energy, can pump water from depths of up to five meters and produce 300 litres per hour, supplying hundreds of households, schools, and the Isinya Health Centre.
Before its installation, families paid upto Ksh100 for a 20-litre jerrycan of water, a cost that strained household budgets, residents also depended on stagnant river sources often polluted by industrial waste, leading to frequent outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and trachoma.
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Christel Badoz, Vice President of PHI, said the system eliminates all viruses and bacteria that cause waterborne diseases, making the water completely safe for consumption.
“Our main objective is to improve community health by eradicating waterborne diseases through the purification of contaminated water,” she explained.
The project was inspired by alarming reports from the Isinya Health Centre, where cases of waterborne illnesses had surged. Kenny Matampash, founder of NIA, said the initiative was designed to provide a sustainable solution.
“Residents and their livestock have been depending on stagnant river water, often contaminated by industrial waste. We decided to donate these solar-powered purifiers to help address this crisis,” Matampash noted.
Beyond Oloosidan, the programme will benefit 10 community groups across Kajiado and Narok counties, six in Kajiado and four in Narok.
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George Kimiti, Kajiado County Director for Natural Resources, praised the donors and urged residents to use the system responsibly. He cautioned that climate change threatens to dry up rivers, making conservation efforts critical.
At the Isinya Health Centre, Dr. Jackson Sitoya said the purifier would significantly reduce the burden of waterborne diseases.
“We have seen a rise in cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and trachoma cases due to unsafe water. With this purifier, residents now have clean water, which will prevent such diseases as prevention is better than cure,” Sitoya remarked.
By Masaki Enock
