October 16, Nairobi, Kenya: EABL foundation invited Global Peace Foundation together with Raslimali Enterprises Ltd for an informal lunch hour meeting at their offices in Nairobi for a brief discussion of the progress of the water project in Kariobangi that has been supported by EABL foundation, in partnership with other organizations.
The project was done through EABL foundation’s Water of Life initiative that provides safe, reliable and sustainable water supply to communities in East Africa with no access to clean and safe water.
The meeting came during Michael Alexander’s visit to Kenya, who is the Head of Environment, Water and Agriculture Sustainability at Diageo, a British multinational alcoholic beverages company and the world’s largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine headquartered in London. He plays a major role in the implementation of the Kariobangi Water Projects and his tour to the site was paramount and timing.
Kariobangi North is one of the informal settlements in Nairobi with a population of about 40,000 people experiencing limited access to safe water for drinking and other domestic use. In response to this, EABL Foundation in partnership with Global Peace Foundation and Chandaria Foundation donated towards the sinking of a borehole and gave 5 water tanks of 10,000 liters to the area’s health center, police post and youth groups.
Michael’s tour to the site began with a visit to the Kariobangi North Health Centre where EABL supported with the sinking of a borehole and also donated 2 water tanks. The hospital which is run by the local county government serves approximately 300 patients daily from the area. Prior to the donation by EABL Foundation, The hospital encountered a number of challenges in delivering effective services to its patients due to lack of sufficient water. Just to mention but a few, the hospital’s maternity clinic was shut down due to lack of water. EABL foundation’s support was a break through as the hospital has since recorded some improvements. It’s even planning of constructing another maternity hall to supplement the previous one that was constructed through the area’s Community Development Fund.
His second visit was to the site where 2 water tanks of 10,000 liters each were donated to the Kariobangi Youth Groups. These youth groups include: Kamash and Shikamana. They work under the Kariobangi Waste Management Alliance and as a way of creating employment and improving livelihoods, the groups embarked on a project to sell water to the residents at a cheaper rate. Michael started with the Kamash Group water tank site visit where he could not help hiding his excitement about the idea. Together with the team they disguised themselves as water vendors and sold water to the locals.
“Normally a 20 liter bottle of water goes for KES 7, but we have offered to sell it at KES 5,” says Mr. Erick Ravoga, CEO Raslimali Enterprise Ltd and leader, Kamash Youth Group.
After the Kamash Youth Group site visit the team finally went to Shikamana Youth Group water tank site where they found a beehive of activities taking place. Unlike the other group, this was quite unique. The project is run by two groups: Shikamana and Future. The groups interval on a monthly basis and after selling water and offering other services like washing cars, each group collects its money and shares equally among its members. Even though conflicts arise at some point they believe in trusting and helping one another.
The groups are planning to expand their business by constructing a sanitation block next to the water tank and also investing in a hosepipe machine for washing cars.
The three youth groups are part of the 11 youth groups under the Kariobangi Waste Management Alliance that form Raslimali Enterprise Ltd. The company received support of KES 5 Million from EABL foundation in partnership with Global Peace Foundation, Chandaria foundation, Safaricom foundation, World Vision and other organizations to establish a community cooker that would serve the residents with a an open area for cooking, a sanitation block and a resource center.
During the meeting Mr. Ravoga affirmed that aside from the community cooker project, the company also engages in fire briquettes production and plastic waste recycling. It received a plastic crashing machine which it’s yet to start the production of plastic poles for fencing.
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