The Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) has inked a deal with Family Bank and Kentainer, renowned tank makers, to distribute water tanks to female teachers across the country.
KEWOTA CEO Benta Opande said that the acquisition and distribution of the water tanks to the association members is a transformative initiative that seeks to accelerate the welfare and economic issues faced by women teachers in the country.
Speaking during the MoU signing at Kentainer factory in Ruiru, Kiambu County, on Tuesday, Opande noted that some 10,000 water tanks will be distributed to teachers, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas of the country, this year.
“Today, we take a significant step forward in fulfilling our promise to address the welfare and economic challenges of our teachers by tackling a critical issue; the storage of water, a valuable resource that remains a challenge in dry areas,” she said.
The CEO, who divulged that KEWOTA currently has a membership of over 90,000 teachers, pointed out that water scarcity not only affects the daily lives of teachers but also impacts the quality of education and the overall well-being of communities.
“This initiative of distributing the tanks aims at tackling this challenge head-on, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals such as zero hunger, quality education and provision of clean water and sanitation,” she averred.
Opande noted that provision of the storage facilities will go a long way in bridging the gender equality gap, adding that the initiative will further support the holistic development of teachers and the communities.
The Association National Treasurer Jacinta Ndegwa noted that even retired teachers in the country are set to benefit under the programme, divulging that KEWOTA is rolling out a Blue Economy programme where the retired tutors will be trained and assisted to rear fish to boost them economically.
Rose Kamene, the manager in charge of Queen Banking at Family Bank, revealed that the teachers will receive loan facilities to a tune of Ksh6 million payable within a period of 96 months and at an interest rate of 13 per cent.
Kamene said that Queen Banking, a product of Family Bank, seeks to empower women in the society by providing them with financial solutions to their initiatives and ventures.
“We also have an unsecured loan facility of Ksh2.5 million for water tanks, boreholes and other facilities. In this partnership we are committed to supporting teachers to ensure they optimally spend their time in class for the sake of improving the quality of education,” she said.
Kentainer CEO Pratik Patel maintained that the firm will ensure quality and after sale services to ensure that teachers concentrate on providing quality education to the Kenyan child.
By Kamau Njoroge
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