85 Percent of World’s Population live in the Driest Half of the Planet

85 percent of the world’s population lives in the driest half of the planet while 783 million people do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation.

On the other hand, 6 to 8 million people die annually from the consequences of disasters and water-related diseases.

The Safaricom Foundation held a dissemination forum in the Nairobi West Region where more than 100 partners were brought together from the different thematic areas to discuss on the various ways on reducing poverty through sustainable livelihoods.

The main focus of the forum was the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).

Kibera Slums is the most densely populated slum in Nairobi with a population of about 800,000. This high population density gives rise to infrastructural challenges, poor water supply and sanitation to the residents.

The area has no access to government-provided piped water, which is only accessible to the neighbourhoods around the slum.

According to UNDP, households in Kibera spend up to 20 percent of their income on water payments which range between 5-20 shillings for a 20-litre container.

Frequent water shortage and poor infrastructure have made Kibera residents pay more for water compared to the other affluent neighbourhoods in Nairobi County who are able to access tapped water.

In 2016, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) launched an innovative aerial water piping system which allows them to reach many people in Kibera. The aerial pipes connect to ten water kiosks throughout Kibera, allowing clean water to flow through pipes in the air – without fear of tampering and contamination.

In collaboration with Safaricom Foundation, the SHOFCO Kibera Water Project was made a success. Safaricom Foundation funded the projects a total of 12.5 million shillings to increase water storage and supply.

SHOFCO’s 100,000 litres tank serves as the largest clean water access point in Kibera slums.

The SHOFCO story is just among many more that have been used to improve the livelihoods of many Kenyans through the help of Safaricom Foundation.

Others include the Kangemi Mlilo Water Project in Taita Taveta County, the Kinango Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Kwale County among others.

More than 700 projects have been implemented across the country the Foundation which continues to do even more.

The Safaricom Foundation which was established in 2003 and has grown to be one of the largest corporate Foundations in Kenya.

Since its inception, it has invested over 3.3 billion shillings creating lasting social, economic and environmental transformation over 3.5 million people across the country.

This investment spreads in its eight thematic areas of focus: education, health, economic empowerment, environmental conservation, water, arts and culture, technology for good and disaster relief.