The Solution
In 2016, SHOFCO launched Africa’s first aerial water pipeline system, an innovative solution to Kibera’s water crisis. Suspended overhead, these durable pipelines bypass contamination and prevent theft or vandalism by water cartels.
The system, supported by partners like Pentair, Safaricom, the Heineken Foundation, and the US African Development Fund, ensures every resident can access clean, safe water within an eight-minute walk. Water is drawn from boreholes, treated at a central facility, and pumped to overhead tanks before being distributed to women-run kiosks throughout Kibera at an affordable and fixed rate.
Impact
Today, SHOFCO’s water infrastructure serves over 40 thousand residents in Kibera. Families no longer face crippling water costs, and waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea have decreased by over 30%.
50
women-led water kiosks
40k
people accessing safe water daily
23m
liters of water filtered and distributed
14,216
students in schools supplied with SHOFCO water
Evelyn's Story
Clean Water Changed My Children’s Lives
For Evelyn, a mother of four, life was a constant struggle to find clean water. “My children were always sick before SHOFCO water. Now, they don’t miss school because of illness,” she says. Mary collects water every morning from a nearby kiosk, confident it’s safe for her family.
Supporters
SHOFCO’s work is made possible by the generosity of partners like Pentair, Safaricom Foundation, the Heineken Foundation, and the US African Development Fund, and the unwavering support of our community.
