Over the past few weeks, construction work has been underway on a brand-new washroom facility at the Koisamo Community Centre, and if there is one thing we have learned from this project, it is that building in Koisamo is never as simple as it looks.
Nonetheless, we are pleased to share that the project is now in its final stages, bringing us just days away from completing what will become the very first structure at the Centre.
The facility includes separate pit latrines and shower rooms for boys and girls, as well as a concrete roof platform that will support a 5,000-litre water tank. Once installed, the tank will help ensure that water shortages do not disrupt activities at the Centre, especially during prolonged dry spells that occasionally affect the area.
Getting to this stage, however, has not been without its challenges.
Construction began during a period of unusually heavy rainfall in Koisamo, an area that is normally classified by the Kenya Meteorological Department as part of the Rift Valley lowlands. The persistent rains left the ground heavily waterlogged, creating a major obstacle during the excavation of the pit latrine.
In fact, our original construction site had to be abandoned altogether after it became clear that the soil was too unstable. The team was forced to identify a new location on higher ground with a more suitable mix of rock and sand that could safely support the structure.
The weather was not the only challenge. Poor road conditions made it difficult to transport building materials to the site, causing delays that stretched the construction period by more than a month. What should have been a straightforward process often became a test of patience.
Despite these setbacks, work continued steadily. We intentionally entrusted the construction to locally qualified masons who know the area well and have done an excellent job. Like many rural communities across Africa, things sometimes move at a slower pace than one might expect, but the quality of their workmanship has made the wait worthwhile.
Today, the project has reached the roofing stage, one of the final milestones before completion. For the many children who attend sports activities, camps, mentorship sessions, and other programmes at Koisamo, the new washrooms will make a real difference. After a long day on the football field or participating in community activities, they will finally have access to clean water and proper facilities to freshen up.
As we look ahead to the completion of the washrooms, we cannot help but feel encouraged. Every challenge overcome, every bag of cement delivered, and every wall raised has brought us closer to this moment.
We are now only days away from celebrating a major milestone; the completion of the first structure at Koisamo Community Centre. And for us, that is proof that the vision for Koisamo is becoming a reality, one step at a time.