WMU to Kenya

Last week, Bryan, Michael (WMU Community Development leader) and I went to Kenya. It was a learning trip in which we visited projects for Grundfos Kenya. It was a productive and inspiring time. The only problem was we were unexpectedly split up – Bryan to sites where the engineers were working, and Michael and I to sites with Community Development. One of those practical but annoying things.

Kathangathini School Committee and user Roda Wambua. The LifeLink project in Kathangathini was initiated and run by a Primary School. The access to water changes lives in so many ways: children can be in school longer because they don’t need to walk far to collect water, family health improves immediately (based on interviews Michael and I made), the system is cheap and easy to use, and the school has started a tree nursery and a greenhouse to grow their own vegetables, which was previously impossible with the dry Kenyan landscape.

Grundfos is an international pump supplier and also owns the new technology we are going to use from next month. These are ‘LifeLink units’. They are a great monitoring device; accountable and sustainable.

Kenya is very dry; a good water source is digging in dry rivers

Users buy water using a water key instead of cash, and every the unit records every purchase. Internet connection enables the WMU office to view every transaction externally. Credits are bought with cash from a water vendor (we’re calling ours ‘Water Agents’ because their job description will include more than water sales), who then transfers credits using their distribution key.  Incorporating this technology with the original project engineering design means no water or cash is unaccounted for, thereby sustaining long-term presence of clean and safe water.

Pump from borehole, to tank, to LL unit

Much of the system design is the same as for WMU. They pump from the water source to a tank, which flows by gravity into the LifeLink unit, to be bought by users with their water keys.

The major system design difference is that Grundfos does not treat the water and their only water source is unused boreholes, e.g. at Mangalete (right). Conversely, WMU’s major function is to treat the water. We use any water source, though the Lake is the primary source with the current project, so long as there is sufficient water quantity.

We are changing our project model to be more business-like. Grundfos is a business; we will be more like a charity-business. The water sales will need to cover all operational costs, but revenue thereafter will be reinvested into the community in the form of a community project. WMU will retain ownership of the system, manage all finances, and the Water Agent is going to be WMU staff. In this way, we will ensure exemplary management, trusted business, and long-term access to the safe water. Though guided by WMU, the community will choose and run the community projects from revenue. We are not giving up the opportunity to empower communities through their own livelihood improvements! Through the Water Agent and the Water Action Group, to be formed after implementation, WMU can provide enduring health and hygiene trainings, discipleship and evangelism. So as much as WMU owns the business, it is the community efforts that determine the real “success” of the project.

We believe this is the way God wants us to uplift fishing communities. To display Kingdom culture by exercising sound business practices that exemplifies integrity, reliability, and the love of Jesus Christ. The local Water Agent and Water Action Group serve as a social and cultural bridge between WMU (keep in mind someone from another tribe can also be counted a foreigner) and the community.

So that is our pilot project for the next year. Pray for us in this endeavour.

Michael (left) talking to users and the vendor at Kola project site

On a personal note, Bryan and I have moved into the double room apartment next to Jude’s house. We will get our furniture in the next couple of days. It’s going to be a nice little home; we are grateful to have somewhere to set up as a place of retreat and hospitality. I must send photos of our home... once it has furniture and isn’t a pile of our stuff. But it is clean now J

As you can see, God is doing a lot of good things. It’s a time of development in so many ways. It reminds me of God’s words in Habakkuk 2:2-3

Write down the revelation
   and make it plain on tablets
   so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
   it speaks of the end
   and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
   it will certainly come
   and will not delay.

Love and blessings, Emily