About 2.5 million Kenyans can now access clean, affordable and constant supply of water for domestic use and farming courtesy of Kenya Breweries Ltd in partnership with Water of Life.
Under the Water of Life programme, KBL has launched numerous water projects, a majority of them being initiated in different areas within the country that, previously, were hard hit by acute water shortage.
According to the programme’s sustainability manager Maryanne Nderu, the project is driven and inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nderu offers that the initiative is pegged on ensuring that every community in Kenya has access to water which is a natural resource.
“Water of Life, programme is inspired by Sustainable Development Goal that advocates for access to clean water and sanitation. Our approach is collaborative and inclusive, that is why we work in close partnership with communities, technical partners and reputable development organizations such as AMREF, Global Peace Foundation and Nature Kenya,” she observed.
Notably, adds Nderu, the programme’s projects focus more on women because “they bear the heaviest brunt of water scarcity challenges.”
Water projects launched under this programme include; Buchenge Water Project which has about 5,000 Kericho residents getting piped water, Olguluuic/Ololarashi borehole in Maasailand where 11,000 people and 20,000 livestock have access to clean water.
Others include Mweiga Ablution Block in Nyeri County benefiting 21,000 residents along the Nyeri-Nyahururu highway, Kerwa water project in Kiambu County where over 20,000 residents in Sigona ward have benefitted; Kiaoni water project which has delivered clean and safe water for 7,000 Makueni residents.
Consolata Mueni, one of the beneficiaries in Makueni lauded the initiative launched in 2017 stating that it has lessened the water burden on locals.
“Before we got this water point, we would go to Athi which is very far,” contends Mueni adding that “Now, I am grateful because I am growing vegetables. Life has changed for the better.”
Edward Wambua, the chairman for Kiaoni borehole water project holds that 10 villages are served by the project.
A 20-litre jerrican of water costs five shillings. The proceeds are used for maintenance of the water point, buying fuel for the generator and paying workers.
In a move further geared towards efficient use of water at its production plant in Ruaraka, Nairobi, KBL has reduced its water consumption by 25 per cent per litre of beer, a ratio that further went lower in 2016 to 23 per cent.
KBL envisages bringing this to 10 per cent in 2020. Besides, the firm has put up Sh7 million water treatment plant on the site, where approximately, 3 million litres of water are treated daily before being channeled to Nairobi River.
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