Only 35% of people in the Lake Victoria region have access to clean and safe drinking water. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of access to safe potable water was highlighted again. Not only for being a necessary staple but also as an important factor for disease and pandemic control. As a social enterprise, it is WeTu’s goal to provide affordable access to this basic need via its vertical brand WeWater. To provide this service, WeWater uses smart and innovative tech solutions to deliver affordable, safe, and clean drinking water 24/7. Driven by solar energy, the raw water is filtered and sterilized before it is sold and dispensed automatically via water ATMs. The installed solar-powered vending machines are operated by a token system. Customers can recharge their tokens with cash at our WeTu Hubs or via Mpesa to access our water service.

Reaching our communities at Lake Victoria

Connected to six of our WeTu Hubs and own in-house water treatment plants, WeWater is currently able to offer its services in Nyandiwa, Sindo, Mbita, Sori, Honge and Ragwe. Up until now (April 2021), WeWater was able to deliver 3 Mio litres of safe and clean drinking water, reaching approximately 10,000 people with over 2,000 registered customers. Water vendors and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) contributed to this achievement by reaching out to remote customers and raising awareness about the importance of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). 

On March 22, WeWater not only celebrated World Water Day 2021 themed ‘Valuing Water”, but also inaugurated our Twin WeTu Satellite Hub in Wich Lum, Siaya County.  The event kicked-off the seventh community in which WeWater is offering its safe water services around the clock. The hub is the third WeTu Satellite Hub, after the first two at Usenge and Kamariga beaches, and the first twin hub that combines our WeWater and WePower services. This way additionally to safe water, Omena fishing communities have access to leasing and recharging of our solar lanterns. The twin hub was solemnly unveiled by Hon. George Rubiik, CEC for Water, Environment and Natural Resources of Siaya County Government.

Future plans and next steps

Since the opening of WeTu at the beginning of 2019, our WeWater services are expanding on a regular basis. In 2021, we are planning to inaugurate four extra water ATMs in Mbita, Nyandiwa, Sori and Sindo to open additional access points for our customers within the communities. Naturally, we are constantly working on our maintenance system and regular water quality analysis to ensure the provision of safe and clean water around the clock. During the ongoing pandemic, WeTu has been actively involved in state pandemic coordination committees set up by county health departments in which we continue to support and operate as a reliable partner by providing safe surroundings for our customers and raising awareness with WASH activities within our communities.