The Caritas Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu (CDoN) and living Water Service Center (LWSC), in partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach initiated a WASH programme in parts of Laikipia County within Marmanet and Githiga wards. It started off in the month of July 2024, where planning and designing of the program was done.
Marmanet and Githiga are neighboring wards in Laikipia County. Communities in these wards face significant challenges that necessitates interventions particularly on water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), spiritual development, environmental stewardship, and disaster preparedness. The two implementing partners seek to address these challenges as they are vital to the well-being of the local population.
The program’s emphasis on local capacity building and community ownership creates a replicable framework for enhancing impact on communities. Establishing trained management committees and transferring full project ownership to participating communities, ensures lasting benefits that extends beyond the implementation period.
GOAL
Resilient communities living in a healthy environment transformed and are using suitable, basic WASH services in Marmanet and Githiga wards by 2030.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Holistic transformation through the gospel
Our integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene program has successfully reached 5% of target population in Marmanet and Githiga ward, providing them with access to safe water, improved sanitation facilities, and enhanced hygiene practices through comprehensive community outreach initiatives. This holistic approach has also reached these communities with the gospel message, while training church leaders to support comprehensive community transformation that addresses both physical and spiritual needs.
A celebration was also carried out on World Environment day at Karaba Comprehensive School reaching 600 school students, teachers and community members. The theme was #BeatPlasticPollution.
2. Water Infrastructure
The program has delivered water infrastructure by constructing one new borehole and fully rehabilitating an existing borehole in Kiriti and Mugumo respectively in Marmanet Ward. Both projects have been commissioned and handed over to community-selected Management Bodies, who have been trained and equipped with the technical knowledge and skills necessary for long-term operation and maintenance.
3. Sanitation and Hygiene
In addition to basic water access improvements, the program has improved sanitation standards for 40 households across Githiga and Marmant wards through the installation of slabs and vent pipe systems. An institutional sanitation facility has also been constructed in Marmanet ward to serve school students and teachers. These sanitation improvements are designed to advance communities along the sanitation ladder while promoting better hygiene practices that contribute to overall health and wellbeing.