Hundreds of pupils at a primary school in Isiolo are at high risk of contracting waterborne diseases and Coronavirus due to hygiene challenges posed by lack of piped water.
Waso Primary on the outskirts of Isiolo town, like other schools faced with water challenges, relies on a borehole where the learners manually pump water for handwashing and which is not always guaranteed.
The manual pumping system handled by the pupils in turns, according to school headteacher Charles Githaiga, could be a medium of transmission of Covid-19 which has claimed over 1600 lives in the last nine months.
“We are appealing to well-wishers to assist us with solar-powered pumps to prevent the risk,” Mr Githaiga said.
Efforts by the school management to have the issue rectified have been futile as the Isiolo Water and Sanitation Company (Iwasco) was reluctant despite promising to restore the supply before this year’s school reopening.
Wabera Headteacher Abdullahi Rashid asked the government to expedite release of the capitation funds to enable schools clear the bills and pay the non-teaching staff.
Mr Rashid who is the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Isiolo chair said more than 100 primary schools in the county were staring at a major crisis as the water and power supply could be disconnected over the unpaid bills.
