By Eddah Waithaka
The Bucket Ministry, a powerful Christian nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through access to clean water, has reached a significant milestone by distributing 81,777 water filters in Kibera. This initiative has ensured that 408,478 residents of the informal settlement now have sustainable access to safe drinking water. The project, which was launched in 2018, aims to provide clean drinking water to all residents of Kibera.
The initiative is designed to provide Kibera residents with access to clean drinking water through the distribution of water filters, is being carried out by local residents themselves.
Remarkably, 98% of the team comes from the community. The success of this program can be largely credited to collaborations with local churches and community leaders.
Kibera slums, one of the largest informal settlements in Africa, is defined by dire conditions that include rampant poverty, overcrowding, and a stark absence of essential services. Residents contend with a lack of running water and reliable electricity, while the availability of social services is nearly non-existent. With only 78 public latrines to serve a vast population, community members are forced to navigate an environment rife with open sewers and mountains of garbage. This hazardous living situation puts residents at significant risk for various health issues, many of which can lead to severe illness or even death.
During the launch in Kibera at the World Mission Church, Christopher Beth, Founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of The Bucket Ministry, mentioned why his organization chose Kibera as the first place to change lives.
“Five years ago, we found by overwhelming consensus that Kibera was indeed a place where we needed to touch lives,” said Christopher, the founder of The Bucket Ministry.
He also added that he is amazed at how the ministry has made a big difference in the community.
“We are amazed at the unprecedented impact our work has had on the community. At the beginning of the project, a case study showed that 52% of the cases in the area were diarrhea. After the water filters were distributed, the cases dropped to 2%.
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The Bucket Ministry collaborates with local leaders and pastors to distribute Sawyer PointONE filters attached to buckets, ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for over 20 years.
These filters effectively eliminate harmful bacteria, parasites, protozoa, and cysts, including E. coli, Giardia, Cholera, and Typhoid.
Steven Otieno, Public Health Officer in Langata, stated, “We tested water filtered by The Bucket Ministry at the National Public Health Laboratories, and it confirmed that the water is safe for human consumption.”
Every recipient of a filter from the Bucket Ministry commits to maintaining its cleanliness and allowing the ministry’s local team to perform three home visits. This process not only ensures the proper upkeep of the filters but also fosters relationships that create opportunities for sharing the Gospel. Each filter comes with a unique waterproof barcode that enables tracking of its distribution and follow-up discipleship efforts through a specialized system known as Mission Mapping.
Teresiah Mweke, a beneficiary of the Bucket Ministry’s water filter, shared, “Since I started using the water filter, I haven’t experienced any stomach issues.”
The Bucket Ministry, a Christian nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through access to clean water, has made significant strides in Kibera by distributing 81,777 water filters.
This initiative has provided 408,478 residents of the informal settlement with sustainable access to safe drinking water. Launched in 2018, the project aims to ensure that every individual in Kibera has access to clean drinking water.
The initiative focused on providing clean drinking water to residents of Kibera through the distribution of water filters has been largely carried out by the local community. Remarkably, 98% of the team consists of area residents. The success of the program has been largely attributed to collaborations with local churches and community leaders.
“Five years ago, we found by overwhelming consensus that Kibera was indeed a place we needed to touch lives,” said Christopher Beth, founder, chief storyteller and director of The Bucket Ministry.
“We are amazed at the unprecedented impact our work has had in the community. When commencing the project, a case study highlighted 52% of diarrhea cases in the area. After distribution of the water filters, the cases have reduced to 2%,” added Christopher.
During the event, Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi praised Chris, the founder of the Bucket Ministry, saying she welcomed him to Kawangware.
“So now Chris is here today giving us a bucket. I am hoping as we leave Kibera, as we enter into Kawangware, and I welcome you into Kawangware, that in Kibera, we shall follow up on those 81,000 souls that you preached to, that they will never, never get lost,” Elachi said.
“We need a few buckets to be in Ukambani, Makueni. We need a few buckets to be in Mandera. We need a few buckets you know, because there are spaces in this country I know, even just seeing that clean water is a nightmare,” she added.
