Bupa Global Kenya has commissioned its fourth community borehole, delivering safe and reliable water access to approximately 11,000 residents in Garashi, Magarini Sub-County. The project reinforces thehealthcare provider’s long-term investment in community wellbeing and its commitment to advancing preventative health.
The Garashi Solar Borehole, funded by the Bupa Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Kilifi County Government and executed through Griot Impact,is a solar-powered water system equipped with an approximately four-kilometre piped distribution network. The infrastructure will now supply clean water to six community collection points, including Garashi Centre, Kadongoleni, Mwangaza, Kalongoni, Garashi Health Centre, and Garashi Primary School, reaching multiple surrounding villages.
For years, many residents of Kilifi have relied on seasonal rivers, shallow wells, and hand-dug water pans, sources that were often unsafe or unreliable. The new installation provides a sustainable alternative that reduces the burden of water collection while improving sanitation, health outcomes, and community resilience.
Speaking at the Borehole unveil,Lawrence Mwazogha,Chief Officer,Water and Natural Resources,Kilifi County, said,“Since 2022, the County Government of Kilifi has invested significantly in expanding water access, laying more than 478 kilometres of pipeline across the county. However, despite this progress, many communities still experience water rationing due to a range of supply challenges. Today, we are grateful to Bupa Global Kenya for stepping forward to support our people through this borehole project. Not only does it provide clean water to key institutions such as schools and health facilities, but it also reflects a thoughtful approach to sustainability by empowering the local community to steward and manage the system for the long term.”
The Garashi project will also directly support Garashi Primary School, which serves approximately 710 pupils, and Garashi Health Centre, which provides primary healthcare services across the wider Garashi location.
Reliable access to clean water will strengthen hygiene and sanitation at the school, support infection prevention at the health facility, and improve conditions for maternal and child health services. Previously, the health centre had to purchase water from bowser deliveries, creating both cost and supply challenges.
The project also reduces the time spent collecting water, particularly for women and girls, while supporting local economic activity and improving community resilience during dry seasons.
Speaking during the unveil, Bupa Global Kenya CEO and Principal Officer Uditha Jayaratne said the project reflects the organisation’s commitment to sustained community partnership.
“What makes this project meaningful is not just the investment, but the people behind it. Our teams at Bupa Global Kenya are committed to helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives, which is why so many colleagues are here on the ground working with partners and the community. The Garashi borehole builds on three previous installations across Kilifi County, which so far allow over 33,000 residents to access clean and safe water. With this fourth project, we’re moving closer to our ambition of expanding clean water access to 100,000 people by 2028 – ensuring more communities can rely on a safe, sustainable supply for generations to come.”
The project combines financial investment with structured operational oversight to secure sustainable water access for the community. In addition to funding the infrastructure, members of the Bupa Global Kenya team provided on-the-ground support, reinforcing the company’s approach of building long-term relationships rather than one-off philanthropic interventions.
The installation will be maintained through Griot Impact’s structured operations and maintenance programme, which includes preventive maintenance, system monitoring, and rapid response mechanisms to safeguard continuity of supply. Crucially, the programme also focuses on training and empowering members of the local community to manage and maintain the system themselves, building long-term ownership and resilience. By equipping residents with the skills and knowledge to care for the infrastructure, the project moves beyond immediate access to water and supports sustainable, community-led stewardship for years to come.
Since establishing operations under its own licence in Kenya, Bupa Global Kenya has positioned the country as a strategic hub for its Africa growth plans.
The company is also progressing plans focused on preventative health initiatives, including community education and early intervention programmes. This reflects Bupa’s global purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives, and making a better world.
