Rotary Club of Rancho Cotati

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International Service

Local nonprofits extend helping hands abroad

The Rotary Club of Rancho Cotati has helped many within its local community but not many may realize the milestones the club has made abroad. Particularly in Kenya, Africa.

Two years ago, the club began building a clinic in Kenya and in the process, Rotarians realized the need for local villagers in Kitwii, Kenya, to obtain water...read more.

Water Project For Kitwii Village, Kenya

Our water project video can now be seen on YouTube!!...or you can still view it at the bottom of the page. Please press the "play" button in the center of the video screen.

Kitwii is a small village seven miles south of Kangundo Town in Kenya. It is basically a supply center for the surrounding hillsides of small peasant farms and family homesteads. At present the water needs are provided by three natural springs. Two of these dry up in the dry season, January to April and August to October.

In August, Rancho Cotati Rotarian Vida Jones visited to Kenya and, with the Rotarians of Machakos, Kenya, went to Kitwii. There they saw the current inadequate and inconvenient water system (three natural springs, two of which dry up regularly). They met with the villagers of Kitwii and their Chief, Dennis Kituku. Vida interviewed two women who were gathering water. They walk a kilometer each way, carrying 40 lb containers of water back to their homesteads. They do this five times a day, every day.

This project proposes to provide clean, reliable water to the 15,000 residents in and around Kitwii. There will also be a positive environmental impact as the runoff water will encourage the growth of trees and natural vegetation in the area.

Fortunately, the government of Kenya is well set up to assist with water projects. They will provide the technical expertise (geologists, engineers, etc.) in a report which can be used to solicit bids from contractors. Depending upon advice from the Kenya Ministry of Water engineers, we propose to sink two bore holes, one on either side of the village, and to install two large storage tanks, and piping to outlying areas. Each bore hole and tank will serve residents in a radius of 3 kilometres. The water will be distributed from water kiosks, one at each site, each with a full time attendant.

The operation of the water system will be supervised by a water committee elected by the residents, registered with the government, and supervised by Area Chief Dennis Kituku. The residents have also agreed to provide the unskilled labor of digging trenches for piping, etc.

The Rotary Club of Machakos, Kenya will partner with us and other Rotary Clubs in District 5130 as we seek a grant from Rotary International which will provide funds to complete the project.