Social Projects

Investing in the people of Kenya

Though a business is principally founded to make profits, social investments remain a key determinant in shaping the relationship and future of the entity with its stakeholders. In the spirit of our motto, Making Life Better, the year 2007 has seen Celtel Kenya increase investment in the Social Investment programmes, commonly referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

This is borne out of our commitment to enhance positive social effects in the country by complementing the efforts of tnde Government and other sponsors in supporting projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Kenya.

This year, in our efforts to develop long term partnerships with diverse communities in Kenya, we have selected to lay emphasis in three key areas; Education, Water and Environment and Arts and Heritage.

Celtel Kenya has successfully rolled out an ambitious programme to equip primary schools with learning materials, as a noble contribution towards improving the quality of the free primary education programme.

Through a unique programme dubbed Build Our Nation, Celtel Kenya has set aside more than Kshs. 30 million this year to purchase text books, revision texts, reference books and other teaching aides. At the close of the year, the programme will have covered at least 250 schools spanning across the country. “By focusing at the basic education level, we trust we are contributing towards a strong foundation that will see Kenya maintain its competitive advantage in the area of human resources,” says David Murray, CEO Celtel Kenya.

Provision of safe drinking water for all still remains a challenge to Kenya and many other developing countries. In recognition of this, Celtel Kenya remains at the forefront in funding water projects especially in the arid and marginalized areas of the country. After a successful partnership with AMREF and Kenya Red Cross in 2006, this year we have set aside Kshs 10 million to ‘make life better’ for various communities by supporting construction of boreholes, shallow wells and funding water harvesting projects across the country. Fresh water supply is a critical ingredient to the survival of a community,” says Mr. Murray.

There is no doubt that Kenya is abound with talent in arts. Through a structured partnership with artistes; writers, actors and musicians Celtel Kenya has managed to hoist careers of many upcoming and youthful talents. In 2007, our efforts have been mainly concentrated on unveiling new talent in the areas of music and theatre.

It remains our long-term commitment to build partnerships with our customers, subscribers and Kenyans as a whole through a continuous engagement in funding projects that will contribute to uplifting the living standards in the country. “You give people tools to support themselves, you give them a future,” Mr. Murray observes.

Use the links below to jump to different stories.

• Thirsty for Security? A tale of the Boni people.
• Joy and smiles as Chakaza winds up
• Relief as project saves residents from marauding baboons
• A stitch in time for an ‘orphaned’ school
• Chasing academic glory on the athletics track
• First Aid made faster

Thirsty for Security? A tale of the Boni people.

It is one thing to live near a large game reserve, but a completely different life when you have to contend with armed bandits and the constant threat of attacks from one of the world’s known hotspots- Somalia.

A quick glance at the Map of Kenya, on the tip of the Kenya Somali border past Lamu Island is a large game reserve. Literary in-accessible by road due to the roaming bandits, the sea is the only safe route, but the folks up there have experienced the worst of both worlds- bandits and lack of water.

Last year, when drought was ravaging most of the arid areas of the country, the impoverished people of Boni were among the hardest hit. Thanks to Celtel and the Kenya Red Cross, the far flung settlement was identified among one of the most vulnerable and thus benefited from generous funding for sinking of two shallow wells for the community.

“We have been forced to walk for 10 Kilometers in search of water, at the risk of encountering wild animals, bandits or even Somali rebels who roam in the game reserve”, said an elder.

The shallow wells are expected to change the lifestyle of the local community which still lacks some basic amenities like a school.

“Although we had been forgotten for a long time, today we have realized that somebody cares for us. We have longed for fresh water since independence,” Mr. Abdallah Kazungu noted when the Celtel team visited the village.

“When you come back next time you come here, please get us mobile phonesso that we can connect with the outside world,” said a boy whose dream is one day to enroll in primary school and become the President of Kenya.

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Joy and smiles as Chakaza winds up

The exciting Celtel Chakaza Ushinde Nyumba promotion came to a close in July giving birth to seven new millionaires in the country. The excitement, however, was not limited to the seven lucky winners alone; during the house handover ceremonies across the country, the occasions were marked with pomp and colour by the entire Celtel family as several exciting prizes including dairy cows, generators and water tanks were rolled out.

Celtel Kenya donated books and equipment worth more than Kshs 600,000.00 to seven primary schools in the neighbourhood of the ‘Chakaza’ houses. The seven schools join the ever-growing list of schools countrywide which have benefited under the Build Our Nation programme. Under the programme launched in 2006, Celtel Kenya donates books and learning materials to select-primary schools, mainly the under-privileged.

“It was such an interesting moment interracting with pupils from various backgrounds. By providing text books to schools with a shortage of this important reading and teaching tools, pupils can now receive quality education to enable them to realize their full potential and the ability to contribute to the development of the nation,” said Mr. David Murray, CEO Celtel Kenya.

As the tension packed third term draws closer, thanks to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination fever, 200 more schools will be proud beneficiaries of revision books and other learning materials to be distributed in September 2007.

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Relief as project saves residents from marauding baboons

“This is the best thing ever that has happened in my lifetime,” sums up Mzee Samuel Longisa of Kisanana village, as he stares unbelievably at the fresh water running from a tap.

It is a new dawn for Mzee Longisa, 85, and residents of Kisanana since they will now be able to access the precious commodity-water- from the just commissioned borehole.

Surrounded by undulating rocky hills, the only sound that disrupts the still calmness of Kisanana, a remote village in Koibatek district, is the constant chirping of birds and the occasional bleating of a goat punctuated by sharp whistles from herdsmen as they head to their only water source- a 20 year old borehole that had been abandoned and now rehabilitated by Celtel.

“I am a living testimony of making life better,” quips borehole chairman Samuel Cheserek flanked by members of his management committee that are charged with overseeing a smooth operation of the borehole and mitigating conflicts between the herdsmen and the few farmers in the area.

“This is the only water resource around this area. I can not thank Celtel enough for this gesture. I always thought that big companies do not give back, but the reality is here with us, we will ensure this borehole is used by everyone collectively and fairly,” Mzee Longisa told the Celtel team that went to commission the borehole in the area in July.

For years, the villagers had been forced to fight for murky water from a shallow well nearby with wild animals. Kisanana residents have known no peace for along time, pushed to desperation by daily fights with rampaging baboons all in search for the precious commodity- water. “We have had incidents of baboons ripping apart calves and goats when they went to the watering hole, it was survival for the fittest,” Mzee Longisa reminisces with bitterness.

Today, the borehole serves over 4,000 people from the surrounding areas and over 8,000 livestock. “I now honestly believe in the statement “making life better”, it could not be better exemplified. Our dignity as human beings has now been restored,” he concludes.

Situated 200 km from Nairobi and right in the heart of Rift Valley, Kisanana is a semi-arid area where clean water remains a scarce resource.

The Kisanana borehole rehabilitation project is part of an elaborate programme which was launched by Celtel last year to cushion the country from effects of a prolonged drought. Through the initiative, Kshs 16 million was dedicated towards drilling boreholes and shallow wells to ease water shortage in Makueni, Kajiado, Wajir, Lamu and Koibatek district. The projects were implemented in partnership with AMREF and the Kenya Red Cross Society.

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A stitch in time for an ‘orphaned’ school

With no where to call home, the pupils and teachers of Mbele primary school are in a dilemma.

Orphaned by administrative wrangles, Mbele Primary school today literally lies in the no-man’s land, sandwiched between three districts in Coast province. Mbele Primary school lies between the three districts of Taita Taveta, Kwale and the newly created Kinango district. What a puzzle!

“This confusion is having far reaching effects on the performance of the school. Our classrooms are today in a sorry state since we cannot benefit from the various allocations especially the constituency development fund and funds disbursed at the district level,” lamented Ms Mbuga, the school’s Headteacher.

It is this uneasy relationship that saw the school’s administration bare it all in a story widely publicized by the local media.

Touched by the plight of the innocent children, Celtel Kenya moved in swiftly with a generous donation of a Kshs. 100,000 for the construction of desks for the school.

“Life will now be better for the children, especially in the lower classes, who have never known the comfort of learning while seated comfortably,” said an elated Ms Mbuga.

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Chasing academic glory on the athletics track

It was billed to be the greatest battle of schools ever to be witnessed in the Rift Valley province. Reason? The Celtel High School Relay competition was making its debut in the country and more so in the Rift Valley, the home of Kenya’s all conquering athletes.

At stake was a novel version of prizes; books! Yes. In a complete departure from tradition, Celtel Kenya chose to reward the budding athletes with book vouchers worth Kshs. 40,000.00 for every category of the relay races. As usual other goodies including trophies and branded T-shirts were also available.

“Since athletics is a very prominent sport in the Rift Valley region, we chose to exploit the passion of the students for the sport to encourage them to improve in academics. And I can assure you it was such an encouraging venture,” observed Claire Ruto, Celtel Kenya Corporate Affairs Director.

The event held at Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret featured relays for both boys and girls in the sprint and long distance categories. “Relays are arguably the most exciting component of an athletics competition. This concept has surely injected excitement to the local schools athletics calendar. We would like to thank Celtel Kenya for this timely sponsorship,” said an elated Mr. Martin Keino of Keino Sports Marketing the firm that organized the event.

And for the schools that failed to take part in the inaugural edition this year; watch out for the event next year for another chance to update your school library stocks!

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First Aid made faster

Administration of First Aid remains a major concern for humanity. Plagued by a myriad of hazards in the day to day activities, it is becoming necessary for everyone to acquire basic skills in first aid. With the majority of Kenyans coming alive to this reality, the demand for training at St. Johns Ambulance is far outstripping the charitable organization’s capacity.

Faced with the scenario St John teamed up with Celtel Kenya to explore ways of improving access to this crucial training. Through the partnership Celtel Kenya donated Kshs. 650,000 to St. John Kenya for the purchase of first aid manuals, first aid boxes, blankets and actor packs.

The equipment will be instrumental towards the training needs of volunteer members who must undergo intense training in First Aid.

“Through your kind gesture, we are now in a position to empower volunteers with knowledge that would enable them to serve the community better, especially on life saving skills and upgrading the current standards,” said Ms Eva Mwai, CEO St Johns Ambulance.

Some of the project activities carried out by St John include Home Based Care and Peer education.