St. Paul’s Ejinja Parish Water Distribution & Solar Conversion Project

Total Project Cost: $18,750

Project Location: Kakamega County, Kenya

Project & Program Background

Through collaboration with our partners, SAWASHI, the St. Paul’s Ejinja Parish Water Distribution & Solar Conversion Project will expand access to safe, reliable water for approximately 4,600 people in Matungu Sub-County of Kakamega County in Kenya. Building on a recently completed borehole funded by the Ritter Family Foundation, the project will convert the existing pumping system to solar power and extend water service to nearby schools, a health facility, and surrounding households.

Community Background

St. Paul’s Ejinja Parish serves a rural, agriculture-based community where most households rely on sugarcane farming, food crop production, small-scale trade, and informal businesses. The parish supports a dispensary, schools, and neighboring families that depend on reliable water access for health, education, and daily living. Despite favorable agricultural conditions, many households face economic challenges and limited access to dependable water services.

Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Concerns

St. Paul’s Ejinja Dispensary relies on an unreliable and highly rationed community water supply, while Ejinja Comprehensive School depends largely on rainwater that is often insufficient during dry periods. The neighboring Senior School uses an unprotected hand-dug well located on private property, creating concerns about safety and long-term access. These challenges limit handwashing, sanitation, healthcare delivery, and the creation of safe learning environments.

Proposed Project

A productive borehole already exists at St. Paul’s Ejinja Parish and currently supplies a 5,000-liter storage tank at the church. The proposed project will convert the existing electric pump to solar power and install additional elevated storage and water distribution infrastructure to extend service to St. Paul’s Ejinja Dispensary, Ejinja Comprehensive School, the neighboring Senior School, and nearby households. These improvements will reduce operating costs while providing reliable year-round water access. 

Sustainability Considerations

A representative Water Board will be established to oversee system operations, maintenance, finances, and water-use management. Affordable user tariffs will fund routine maintenance, pump servicing, and future repairs. Solar conversion will reduce energy costs, while transparent financial management and strong local leadership will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.

Community Engagement

Parish leaders, school representatives, healthcare workers, water users, and neighboring households will participate in project planning, implementation, and oversight. Community members will support the project through labor contributions, site protection, and participation in governance activities. Ongoing user involvement and regular reporting will strengthen ownership and accountability while protecting the investment for future generations. The community will also contribute $8,031 to the construction project which shows solid investment in the implementation of the project.

WEFTA Volunteers

WEFTA volunteers will contribute 15% of the total project cost by supporting project assessment, hydrogeological investigations, design review, procurement oversight, construction supervision, and quality assurance. Following construction, they will assist with system monitoring, and ongoing maintenance guidance through SAWASHI’s WASH Circuit Rider program.

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