Water crisis keeps Trans Nzoia students out of class

Children in many schools across Trans Nzoia county are missing classes because they lack access to clean drinking water.

The move is exposing them to waterborne diseases and disrupting their education.

Education and Vocational Training executive Janerose Mutama said the worst-hit schools are in remote areas with no access to piped water.

"We are now working with development partners to ensure our ECDE centres and all schools have access to clean water so that learners are retained in school," Mutama said.

She said surveys conducted in the county revealed unsafe drinking water is one of the leading causes of absenteeism among ECDE learners. Many children fall ill from waterborne diseases and miss lessons.

Mutama spoke during a consultative meeting with officials from Lifestraw, a supplier of water purification equipment, as the county government explored partnerships to improve access to safe drinking water in schools.

County Secretary Truphosa Amere said the county government is keen to partner with the organisation to install water purification facilities in ECDE centres across the county.

"We want our children to drink clean and safe water. This initiative will improve their health, well-being and learning environment," Amere said.

She said the partnership would play a significant role in ensuring children have access to safe drinking water while at school. She noted that water shortages remain a major challenge, particularly for ECDE centres in rural areas.

Other executives who attended the meeting include Gideon Barongo (Roads and Public Works), Eliud Tormoi (Gender, Sports, Culture and Tourism) and Robert Wamalwa (Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change).

The officials called for a collective effort to address the water crisis in schools.

"Clean water means healthy learners and healthy learners mean a brighter future. We must work together to achieve this," Wamalwa said.

Once rolled out, the initiative is expected to reduce absenteeism, improve learning outcomes and safeguard the welfare of young learners across the county.

Meanwhile, the county government has allocated Sh140 million to the Education and Vocational Training sector in the 2026-27 financial year budget.

Of the allocation, Sh75 million will finance education programmes, while Sh65 million has been earmarked for Vocational Training Centres.

A draft budget circulated during public participation shows that Sh21 million has been set aside to equip ECDE centres with specialised learning materials.

For vocational training, Sh50 million has been allocated for capitation of VTCs to support scholarships and other education programmes.

The construction and rehabilitation of VTCs has been allocated Sh13 million. The funds will be used for non-residential buildings, including offices, training centres and other related infrastructure.

In addition, Sh2 million has been allocated for start-up kits and related infrastructure works in Kiminini. 

INSTANT ANALYSIS

 The water crisis in Trans Nzoia schools highlights how basic infrastructure remains central to children's education. While attention often focuses on classrooms, teachers and learning materials, access to safe drinking water is equally critical to keeping learners healthy and in school. Frequent absenteeism caused by waterborne diseases can undermine academic performance, particularly among ECDE learners, who are the most vulnerable.

 The county's planned partnership with Lifestraw, alongside increased education funding, signals recognition that improving learning outcomes requires investment beyond textbooks. The success of the initiative, however, will depend on how quickly clean water reaches the remote schools where the need is greatest.