Kitui Residents Emotional After Philanthropist Drilled Long-Awaited Borehole, Ending Water Struggle

• Residents of Kanduti in Kitui County could not contain their joy after a philanthropist drilled a borehole in the area
• The 300-foot borehole is expected to serve over 3,000 residents who previously depended on a seasonal river for water
• A ward administrator disclosed that Kanduti women suffered back problems because of carrying water jerry cans for long distances

Residents of Kanduti in Kitui county have something to smile about after a new solar-powered borehole was unveiled in their village.

The unveiling brought tears to their eyes as it ended years of trekking over 10 kilometres in search of the valuable commodity.

Borehole to serve over 3k residents

According to the project sponsor, betPawa, the 300-foot borehole will serve over 3,000 residents who previously depended on a seasonal river.

Ward administrator Sammy Mwanza disclosed that he had always wanted to set up a borehole for his community but had not been able to raise enough funds to complete the project.

Therefore, completing the borehole was a dream come true for many area residents.

“This is a win for the Kanduti community. I am grateful to the entire team and everyone involved in making this dream come true,” Mwanza said.

In addition to drilling the borehole, the project entailed building a structure to support a 10,000-litre water tank, pumps, a piping system, and solar panels to power the pump.

Wife nearly left hubby due to struggle

Fridah Charles, a woman who got married in the area revealed that she almost ran away from her husband's village because of water issues.

"We used to borrow donkeys from different families to fetch as much water as possible to avoid making the long distance to the river frequently. It was so hectic!” she lamented.

Another Ward Administrator, Alex Kilunda, noted that Kanduti women suffered back problems because they carried water jerry cans long distances.

One of the villagers told TUKO.co.ke that the absence of water also affected the men as women left for long durations, leaving them in limbo.

"Wanaume pia tumeteseka sana. Mabibi zetu walikuwa wanapotea masaa kadhaa hadi tunaanza kushuku hawajaendea maji (Men have really suffered. Our wives would disappear for so long we started suspecting it wasn't water they were out searching for)," he said.

Apart from the villagers, the borehole will also supply water to a polytechnic, a high school, a primary school, a public health centre and the area chief’s residence.

MrBeast drilled 52 boreholes in Kenya

In November 2023, YouTuber MrBeast captured the hearts of Kenyans by revealing that he participated in drilling 52 boreholes across the country.

MrBeast shared a compelling 10-minute video on his widely followed YouTube channel, showcasing his hands-on involvement in the borehole drilling.

The video quickly gained international attention, leading to praise for his philanthropic endeavours.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke