Providing Life-Sustaining Water and Care in Kenya

Sep 29

3 min read

KENYA

The St. Anthony Dispensary, operated by the Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation, serves approximately 15,000 people in the arid region of Tunyai, Kenya. The clinic urgently needs a sustainable water source, as it currently relies on an insufficient supply of water which must be trucked-in, and is often questionably sourced. The Sisters seek to drill a borehole, install a pump, and construct a storage tank to ensure long-term access to clean water. With a mission rooted in faith, service to the poor, and evangelization, the sisters provide critical healthcare while sharing the Gospel. CWM funds will help complete the water project, enabling the dispensary to continue its mission of healing, empowerment, and faith-based outreach in 2025

Single water tank currently serving dispensary, filled by water truck twice weekly

PROJECT UPDATES

Clean Water Secured for St. Anthony Dispensary in Tunyai, Kenya

August 2026

Thanks to the generous support of Catholic World Mission donors, the Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation have successfully completed the Tunyai Water Project, providing a reliable source of clean water for St. Anthony Dispensary and the future hospital planned to serve this growing community in Kenya!

Clean Water Secured for St. Anthony Dispensary in Tunyai, Kenya

When St. Anthony Dispensary opened in January 2025, it became an essential source of healthcare for the region, serving a community of more than 15,000 people. However, the dispensary revealed a critical need: a dependable water supply to sustain both current services and future healthcare expansion.

The project faced significant challenges after an initial borehole drilled in 2025 failed to produce enough water. Undeterred, the Sisters pursued additional studies and explored alternative solutions including drilling on another property. Their perseverance paid off after a hydrogeological study identified a different location on the Sisters' own property with strong potential for water access.

Acting on these findings, a second borehole was drilled on June 23, 2026 and the results exceeded expectations. The new borehole produces approximately 7.5 cubic meters of water per hour, more than enough to support both the current dispensary and the future short-stay hospital envisioned for the community. Water quality testing by local authorities also confirmed that the water is pure and safe for human consumption!

Thanks to you, the project was completed through the installation of a solar-powered pumping system, two elevated 10,000-liter water storage tanks, and the infrastructure needed to distribute water throughout the site. The result is a sustainable, long-term solution that will serve thousands of patients for years to come.

This achievement is a beautiful testament to God's providence and the power of faithful generosity. Despite unexpected setbacks, the Nazareth Sisters remained steadfast in prayer and hope, trusting the Lord to provide. In His abundance, God answered their perseverance with a reliable source of clean, life-giving water that will serve St. Anthony Dispensary and future generations.

The Nazareth Sisters expressed their joy and gratitude upon seeing the project come to fruition:

"The Nazareth Sisters operating the dispensary in Tunyai are thrilled by this development. God is good... all the time!"

Advancing the Tunyai Water Project with the Nazareth Sisters

February 2026

Catholic World Mission is grateful to support the Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation in Tunyai, Kenya, through a grant awarded in April 2025. This partnership continues the vital work that began with the construction of St. Anthony Dispensary, built in 2024 and officially dedicated and blessed on January 25, 2025. Serving more than 15,000 people, the dispensary has exceeded expectations, now caring for 20–30 patients daily with a full‑time advanced nurse, part‑time Clinical Officer, lab technician, and support staff. With the nearest hospital over 12 miles away, the Sisters are now discerning the possibility of building a small hospital with a short termin-patient ward to better meet the community’s needs.

To sustain the dispensary and any future medical facility, a reliable water source is essential. In 2025, three water‑engineering companies surveyed the land and confirmed water availability, though at significant depth. Best Boreholes Limited drilled a 260‑meter borehole on August 19, 2025, but the water yield was far below what the dispensary requires.

After exploring several alternatives, the most promising solution is to drill on adjacent land where the water table is higher, estimated at 150 meters, and where the water supply appears sufficient for both the dispensary and a future hospital. The landowner, a Catholic widow, has generously agreed to lease the property to the Nazareth Sisters at no cost. However, legal steps are required to transfer the land title from her late husband’s name before an agreement can be finalized.

Despite setbacks, the Nazareth Sisters remain committed to moving forward. With legal matters expected to be resolved soon, the hope is to drill the new borehole and install storage tanks in the first half of 2026. Catholic World Mission will continue to share updates as the project progresses.