ABC Bank sponsored the handover ceremony of the rehabilitated Oloika borehole, an initiative of the First Acre project by the National Steering Committee on Drought Response at Oloika, Kajiado Central Constituency on 18th May 2024.

The project stands as one of three concept sites established to cultivate climate change resilience and adaptability while fostering the diversification of communities’ revenue streams, by the National Steering Committee on Drought Response, of which ABC Bank’s General Managing Director, Shamaz Savani is a member.

Through the project, the community has reaped numerous benefits, including:

1. Improved water access: The rehabilitated borehole has significantly reduced the distance women and children in the community travel to fetch water, from a staggering 10 kilometres to a maximum of 2 kilometres. This substantial reduction liberates their time for engaging in other empowerment activities.
2. Enhanced educational opportunities: Previously, children had to walk 14 km to access water for school. However, the project has eradicated the necessity for school-going children to fetch water, as a school and church have been established adjacent to the borehole.
3. Agricultural Innovation: The community has ventured into harvesting tomatoes, spinach, and kale for the first time, thanks to the comprehensive training provided by the project. This development serves as a testament to the potential for agricultural productivity even in arid regions.
4. Women’s Leadership and Empowerment: Women in Oloika are not only benefiting from improved water access but are also at the forefront of managing the project, thus showcasing their resilience and leadership prowess.

Led by Philip Wambua, ABC Bank GM Treasury, on behalf of ABC Bank’s GMD, ABC Bank was honoured to partake in this inspiring transformative journey and remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting further sustainable and enduring climate change resilience efforts.