First lady Rachel Ruto has donated water tanks to 26 schools in Kajiado West constituency to enable them have access to clean drinking water.
Speaking in Kisaju Primary School during an event to mark the World Water Day, the First Lady underscored the importance of access to clean water in schools, as it directly impacts students’ health, hygiene, and academic performance.
Mrs. Ruto reiterated that by providing water tanks to schools, learners were relieved of the burden of water scarcity and this contributed to school enrollment retention and transition, in line with the 100% transition policy of Government,” she added.
“Access to clean water is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. Schoolchildren require access to water to reduce the time they spend walking long distances to collect it,” she said.
She added that the water tanks would also enable the schools to establish fruit and vegetable gardens to supplement learners’ diets and provide practical training to support the Competency-Based Curriculum.
The First Lady further committed to improving the welfare of learners by working with leaders and partners to ensure all public primary and secondary schools have sufficient clean drinking water through the provision of water tanks, boreholes, wells, and water pans.
Mrs. Ruto further called on Kajiado residents to plant trees so as to conserve the environment and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
She said that in order to achieve the President’s directive of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, every Kenyan must start by planting trees in the homes.
Other leaders present during the function include Kajiado West MP George Sunkuiya, Woman Representative Leah Sankaire among other leaders.
World Water Day, marked on March 2 every year since 1993, is a United Nations Observance focusing on the importance of freshwater.
It seeks to draw attention to the global water crisis and raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.
By Rop Janet
