At Kitheini Primary School, mornings often began with the same routine-not lessons, not laughter, but uncertainty. Children would gather around the school's aging hand pump, clutching empty bottles and gazing expectantly, waiting to see if water would flow that day. Some mornings, the hand pump released only a weak trickle after long minutes of effort. Other days, it produced nothing at all. Pupils took turns pushing the heavy handle again and again, hoping the next attempt would bring water.

Teachers adjusted their schedules to accommodate these shortages, and handwashing before meals became a matter of chance rather than a consistent practice. Even the simplest activities-cleaning classrooms, watering the small school garden, or just drinking without worry-were planned around scarcity.

Then came the day everything changed. As D&S celebrated its 80th anniversary, the occasion transcended mere reflection on past achievements; it became a catalyst for creating a lasting impact in communities that needed it most. In this spirit, D&S through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and under the leadership of Wote Branch Manager, Japheth Karisa, supported Kitheini Primary School with the installation of a 0.75 kW solar-powered water pumping system. The system is capable of delivering up to 1,500 liters of water per hour. The project now provides a reliable source of clean water for 200 pupils and over 2000 people.