WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene)

Access to clean water and adequate sanitation remains one of the most pressing challenges facing rural women in Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions. Women and girls bear the disproportionate burden of water collection, often walking long distances daily, which limits their participation in education, economic activities, and community leadership. Our Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) program empowers rural women to become leaders in water conservation and sustainable resource management within their communities.

Program Overview

This community-driven program positions women at the centre of water governance and hygiene promotion in marginalized areas such as Kajiado, Narok, and Laikipia counties. Participants learn water conservation and storage techniques, safe sanitation practices, and hygiene education methods they can cascade to their households and communities. The program emphasizes women's leadership in water resource management committees, ensuring their voices shape decisions about this critical resource.

Key Activities

Participants engage in hands-on training sessions covering rainwater harvesting systems, water pan maintenance and protection, household water treatment and safe storage, construction of improved sanitation facilities, menstrual hygiene management, and community-led total sanitation approaches. Women are trained as community WASH champions who conduct peer education, monitor water points, and advocate for improved water infrastructure at the county level.

Expected Outcomes

Women gain the skills and confidence to manage water resources sustainably, leading to reduced waterborne diseases, improved household hygiene, and greater female representation in water governance. The program targets a 40% reduction in time spent on water collection and a 50% increase in women's participation in water management decision-making. Beyond individual households, trained WASH champions drive lasting behavioural change, ensuring that clean water and dignified sanitation become a reality for entire communities across Kenya's drylands.