Nabongo Community WASH Project

Total Project Cost: $15,953

Project Location: Nabongo Friends Church Community, Kakamega County, Kenya

Project & Program Background

The Nabongo Community WASH Project was identified through WEFTA’s local implementing partner, Safe Water and Sustainable Hygiene Initiative (SAWASHI), in response to persistent water access challenges faced by residents of the Nabongo Friends Church community in Kakamega town. Despite its urban setting, the community experiences chronic water shortages due to reliance on intermittent municipal supplies, shallow and open wells, and other unsafe sources.

WEFTA and SAWASHI, in coordination with local church leaders and residents, have developed a sustainable and community-led project to provide reliable access to safe water, directly improving health outcomes, sanitation conditions, and community resilience.

Community Background

Nabongo Friends Church is located in Sheywe Sub-location, Kakamega Municipality, serving a population of approximately 2,000 people across 250 households. The community is youthful, with a large proportion of children and adolescents, and faces elevated health risks due to the lack of reliable and clean water sources. The local economy includes small businesses, informal trade, and civil service jobs, but access to basic services—particularly water and sanitation—remains a major gap, even in this semi-urban environment.

The housing stock ranges from permanent to semi-permanent structures, and many families must rely on unsafe and distant water sources, contributing to high rates of waterborne illnesses.

Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Concerns

Although situated within town limits, the Nabongo community has inadequate access to clean, safe, and consistent water. Current sources include open wells, shallow boreholes, and sporadic municipal supply—many of which are either contaminated or insufficient. Sanitation infrastructure is minimal and hygiene practices are severely compromised due to water scarcity, resulting in a high burden of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea.

This project will address the urgent WASH needs by delivering year-round safe water access, enhancing sanitation practices, and significantly reducing waterborne illnesses.

Proposed Project

The project will include:

• Drilling a deep borehole within the Nabongo Friends Church compound.
• Installing a submersible pump, storage tank, and basic water distribution network.
• Training a Water Management Committee (WMC) for local oversight and sustainability.
• Working with church and community leaders to coordinate water access and hygiene promotion.

Construction is anticipated to be completed within six to eight weeks following mobilization.

Sustainability Considerations

A community Water Management Committee will be established and trained to manage day-to-day operations, perform basic maintenance, and collect nominal user fees to cover repair costs. Church leaders will play a central role in monitoring the system and coordinating community involvement. Durable materials and reliable technology will be used to ensure longevity and efficiency of the system.

The project design includes key elements for long-term sustainability: strong local ownership, capacity-building for operations and maintenance, environmental resilience, and financial self-reliance through community contributions.

Community Engagement

The Nabongo community has already demonstrated strong ownership of this project, contributing nearly 50% of the total project costs. Residents will assist in construction-related tasks, participate in water system governance, and ensure inclusive access. The Nabongo Friends Church will serve as the central stakeholder for community outreach and ongoing system management, helping to build local accountability and transparency.

This high level of community commitment strengthens the project’s long-term success and reflects the local urgency for clean, accessible water.

WEFTA Volunteers

WEFTA volunteers will contribute technical assistance in borehole design, pump selection, water quality testing, and community training. WEFTA is committing 15% of the total project cost as in-kind support for engineering and project management services. This ensures that the water system is professionally designed, properly constructed, and resilient for years to come.

WEFTA’s involvement guarantees not only technical oversight but also a strong partnership model, supporting our local partners and empowering communities to achieve lasting change.

If you would like additional information about this project, please contact us.