Support our Hope for Widows Program in 2026
We're raising $40,000 to ensure we can help more widows this year
In Kenya, Maasai people say Enkare Enkishui
Our Mission
Water is Life Kenya is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to spark personal, economic, and community development in marginalized communities in Kenya, according to existing customs and culture. We do this by providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; empowering women; and equipping people to develop income through improved resource management.
Years in Operation
1
Clean Water Projects
1
People with Clean Water
1
Widows Supported
1
WILK Blog: Perspectives
What Happens When the Rain Won’t Stop Falling
We went three years without rain in Kajiado County. Now, it seems like we're getting three years' worth of rain all at once. And, while we've wanted and needed this rain, current downpours have been too much to handle. A river within the Maasai Mara flooded tourist accommodations, and helicopters were…
From Home to Homeless: Displaced Maasai in Crisis
Last week, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephanie McCrummen published a story in The Atlantic about the current land problems Maasai face in Tanzania. The details of her investigation are, at the very least, troubling, and her work has brought further awareness of land grabs in Tanzania and Kenya that Maasai have…
Magis for Maji: SJU Students Supporting Kenyans
Over the last couple months, we've teamed up with local schools to raise awareness about the water crisis in Kajiado County, Kenya. Today, we'll highlight St. Joseph's University to show how students are helping our Maasai friends live better lives. "Magis" at Work On March 22, Water is Life Kenya…
WILK's Transformative Programs
WASH Projects
Mainly through deep borehole wells, we establish community water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, each benefitting hundreds of families and their livestock.
Hope for Widows Program
Maasai widows are incredibly marginalized. We empower them to lift themselves out of poverty by providing business training and giving grants of goats and cash.
Livestock as a Business Program
To keep the water on, communities need stable income. We train and finance Maasai livestock keeping groups so they can run better businesses.
Beaded Handicrafts Program
One way we help Kenyan women generate income is through our Beaded Handicrafts program. We buy directly from artisans and sell our products to U.S. supporters.
Our Method
Across each of our programs, our educational approach meets a few key criteria:
- Engage all the Senses. We encourage dynamic participation by bringing lessons to life and teaching important lessons in approachable ways.
- Respect the People. We respect the people, culture, and traditions of the Maasai while introducing new concepts for water, livestock, and business management.
- Raise up Women. In a male-dominated society, we empower women with the skills, confidence, and leadership needed to improve their lives.
Water is Just the Beginning
Watch the video below to see the Oleopolos Community Borehole, established in 2012. For over a decade, this life-changing project has provided clean, reliable water to the surrounding community, improving livelihoods and supporting sustainable development.