Mpirrishi Primary School is located in Kajiado County, Keekonyokie Central, Kisamis Zone, about 90 km southwest of Nairobi and about 20 km from Oltepesi Trading Center.
The school currently has 217 students enrolled, 107 girls and 110 boys. Below is the breakdown of students per class:
| Class | Girls | Boys | Total |
| Kindergarten 1 | 20 | 15 | 35 |
| Kindergarten 2 | 33 | 21 | 54 |
| 1st class | 15 | 20 | 35 |
| 2nd class | 10 | 11 | 21 |
| 3rd class | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| 4th class | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 5th grade | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| 6th grade | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 7th grade | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| 8th grade | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Total | 110 | 107 | 217 |
From the 4th grade onwards, the number of girls per class decreases dramatically. This is due to FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)—once the girls are mutilated, they are considered women and are ready for marriage. The number of students also drops from around the age of 10, as they are then expected to care for the animals.
The absenteeism rate is high for several reasons:
- Illness, especially among younger children
- The need to tend to their parents’ animals, particularly during droughts
- The long distance to school
- Lack of food at home
The school’s water supply is dependent on rainfall. Due to the ongoing drought, which has lasted for more than four years, the parents are required to pay for water. However, given that many families are already struggling with the loss of their animals and the ongoing famine, this has become almost impossible for them.
Mperrishi Primary School does not have a school feeding program to ensure that the children receive food at school. Pupils often arrive hungry, thirsty, and tired after a long journey to school without breakfast. This is another challenge for the teachers.
At the moment, many pupils do not attend school because they are searching for a plant whose seeds are eaten by goats, and the bitter-tasting plant is chewed by people to quench their thirst.
The WeCare-Association has been involved with Mperrishi since 2021. We have repaired one of the two existing water tanks and purchased two additional 5,000-liter tanks. Since the beginning of 2023, the school has been receiving 20,000 liters of water every month. Since we’ve been supplying both water and food regularly, the number of students attending school consistently has increased.
The inhabitants of Mperrishi are members of the Maasai tribe, who are traditionally herders and live off cattle breeding. A large proportion of the population consists of women and children, as the Maasai still practice polygamy, with men marrying up to 10 women. Birth control is not practiced. There are about 500 bomas (traditional mud huts) in the area.
There is no medical care in Mperrishi. The nearest health center is 20 km away.
We are currently the only organization that regularly brings water and food to the area and raises awareness about FGM.
During our visit in November 2022, we noticed the poor condition of the school. The classrooms are made of corrugated iron, which heats up in the sun, making them unbearably hot. They are in disrepair, and snakes are often found in the classrooms, while ants build their nests there during vacations. Termites have also damaged the school books.
The long, difficult journey to school, coupled with hunger and thirst, also negatively affects the pupils’ performance.
Below is an overview of the performance of the six oldest girls we support in Years 7 and 8. The girls marked in blue have been attending secondary school since February 2023, where they also reside. We are hopeful this will have a positive impact on their academic performance.
| Name | 1st trimester 22 | 2nd trimester 22 | 3rd trimester 22 | Development 3rd/2nd trimester (%) |
| L. Florence | 289 | 285 | 267 | -6 |
| L. Emily | 282 | 249 | 231 | -7 |
| Y Victoria | 247 | 237 | 229 | -3 |
| S. Rhodah | 291 | 257 | 239 | -7 |
| N. Emily | 283 | 283 | 256 | -10 |
| S. Abigail | 302 | 268 | 221 | -18 |
Unfortunately, the picture is similar for the girls in lower classes. The grading system here has changed due to a new curriculum in Kenya.
| Name | 1st trimester 22 | 2nd trimester 22 | 3rd trimester 22 |
| S. Lilian | 23 | 18 | 18 |
| S. Sylvia | 31 | 27 | 28 |
| T. Rose | 31 | 26 | not available |
| K. Joy | 27 | 24 | not available |
| L. Susan | 24 | 22 | 23 |
| S. Purity | 7 | 7 | 7 |
The results for Joy and Susan are not yet available due to the system changeover.
Purity’s poor performance is a result of her near-total blindness. We have consulted with several ophthalmologists in Switzerland regarding her case. She would need a corneal transplant to restore her vision, but unfortunately, this is not feasible given her circumstances. We are currently working with Agnes Gitonga to see if there are any prospects for Purity.
We are currently clarifying with Agnes Gitonga whether there are any prospects for Purity.
Out of all the three schools we visited on our trip to Kenya, Mperrishi is the most disadvantaged. Securing the water supply for 2023 is a crucial step forward. While this is not a permanent solution, it is a workable one for now. The availability of water at the school has become a strong motivating factor for parents to send their children to school.
Our water deliveries and support for the girls at Mperrishi are meant to encourage other girls and the entire community to refrain from FGM. During our visit, we met with the cutter, who also acts as a midwife. We brought her disinfectant, disposable gloves, and disposable blades for births, and in return, we promised to train her youngest daughter and encourage her not to carry out any more mutilations.
We are actively seeking sponsors for a borehole project in Mperrishi to ensure a permanent water supply for the nearly 5,000 people living there.
We kindly ask for donations to support our water project in Mperrishi, and we guarantee that every cent will go directly to the project. All administrative expenses are covered by a private donation.
