Creating Healthier Schools: How the WE REACH WASH Strategy is Transforming Lives in Mumias East

In 2024, the WE REACH WASH Strategy brought lasting change to ten primary schools in Mumias East Sub-County, Kakamega County. Through a targeted, school-based approach, the program tackled the root causes of poor hygiene, absenteeism, and menstrual health challenges transforming not just facilities, but mindsets and behaviors. The results were inspiring: cleaner, healthier schools, empowered students, and teachers leading a new era of school-based health leadership.

Empowering Change Through Schools

Schools are more than places of learning; they are places for community transformation. With this in mind, WE REACH implemented an integrated WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programme in 10 selected schools. The interventions included:

• Training for Head Teachers, Boards of Management (BoMs), and Teacher Health Champions.

• Formation and activation of student health clubs.

• Capacity-building on menstrual hygiene management (MHM), proposal writing, and community engagement.

• Provision of materials for soap-making and water treatment.

• Monitoring of student health indicators and school attendance.

The year’s theme was clear: sustainability through empowerment.

The Emakhawale Success Story

Emakhawale Primary School became a standout model in 2024. After attending a WE REACH training on proposal writing, the headteacher secured funding from BlueTanks and LifeStraw for new handwashing and drinking water stations. Additionally, the school obtained a 10,000-litre water tank from the local CDF, demonstrating the power of local leadership and advocacy.

Student-led Health Clubs played a critical role. These clubs organised awareness campaigns, hygiene inspections, and soap-making sessions, instilling lifelong habits in their peers. As a result, the school reported a noticeable reduction in waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and typhoid. With healthier students, attendance improved, and so did academic performance.

This case exemplifies how knowledge, agency, and small grants can produce a ripple effect of transformation.

Data Speaks: Measurable Impact

WE REACH’s End-Year Impact Evaluation showcased a clear picture of progress across all 10 schools:

In 2025, significant progress was made in reducing health concerns: waterborne illnesses decreased by 45.06% (from 1,132 to 622 cases), menstrual hygiene issues dropped by 41.53% (from 236 to 138 cases), and skin and oral infections fell by 38.10% (from 496 to 307 cases).

The drop in illness not only improved students’ wellbeing but also led to higher attendance rates, especially among menstruating girls, who previously stayed home due to lack of MHM facilities. With improved hygiene infrastructure and access to sanitary products, they now participate confidently in class.

These issues are systemic and deeply rooted in local infrastructure and socio-economic realities. However, they also provide clear direction for future interventions.

What We Learned Along the Way

The implementation of the 2024 WE REACH WASH Strategy offered several valuable lessons. We observed that community involvement and student ownership significantly boosted the success of school-based hygiene initiatives. Schools where students actively participated, such as making and selling soap, demonstrated stronger engagement and outcomes.

However, the journey was not without challenges. Disruptions like floods and civil unrest impacted school calendars, teaching us the importance of flexibility in programme implementation. Local conditions demand adaptable timelines to maintain progress and sustainability.

Another key observation was the need for a stable water supply. Schools with irregular access suggested the installation of rainwater tanks to ensure consistent availability, highlighting the role of reliable infrastructure in effective WASH practices.

We also saw the power of data. Strengthened monitoring of health outcomes and attendance helped identify underperforming schools, enabling targeted support and improvements. Peer learning proved effective as well joint workshops for headteachers and teacher health champions fostered the sharing of successful strategies, encouraging a collaborative culture.

Looking ahead, these efforts will not only promote wider awareness but also position some schools as local hubs of good hygiene practices, inspiring others to follow suit.

The Road Ahead: From Schools to Communities

The long-term vision of WE REACH is ambitious but grounded. With NGO status achieved in 2021, WE REACH aims to replicate this WASH model across Kakamega, Bungoma, Kitui, Marsabit, and Samburu Counties by 2030.

But there’s a gap: the home and community environments. Children may learn hygiene at school but often lack water, soap, or knowledge at home. WE REACH recognizes the need to bridge this gap by engaging Community Health Promoters (CHPs), parents, and local leaders—though current resources are limited.

As we move forward, several key recommendations will guide the next phase of the WE REACH WASH Strategy. First, scaling up Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) training and facilities across all target schools is essential to ensure that girls can manage their periods with dignity and confidence.

Reliable water supply infrastructure such as rainwater harvesting tanks should be prioritised to support consistent hygiene practices, especially in schools prone to supply disruptions. Strengthening partnerships with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) will also be crucial in extending hygiene education beyond the classroom and into homes.

Introducing model schools that showcase the best WASH practices will help inspire and guide others. Finally, facilitating access to WASH hardware through new partnerships will address the resource gaps that hinder implementation and promote long-term sustainability since, hygiene is a Right, not a Privilege

The 2024 WE REACH WASH Strategy demonstrated that impactful, community-rooted change is possible even with limited resources when schools, students, and teachers are equipped to lead. Schools are not just beneficiaries; they are engines of health transformation.

As we look to 2025, the goal is to deepen impact, increase reach, and ensure that no child misses school because of preventable illness, unsafe water, or lack of hygiene support.

Every child deserves a clean, safe, and healthy environment to learn and thrive. Together, we can make this a reality, one school at a time.

We appreciate Gloria Mariga the author of this blog