Kenya 2026
The Kenya team has been drilling wells for over 13 years and holds the record for the deepest well ever drilled with a Village Drill — 249 feet. With growing demand from communities and paying clients, they need a second drill to keep up. CTT is providing $30,000 USD (~$48,000 NZD) for a used Village Drill Hybrid, an electric adapter kit, shipping and spare parts — enabling the team to potentially double their output to around 6 wells per month.
Unlike our Liberia project where we funded a brand-new drill and team from scratch, the Kenya project supports the scaling of an existing, proven operation. The team is already self-sustaining, already generating revenue, and already enrolled in the WHOlives Community Funded Well program. No training or additional support is needed — this is a one-time capital investment.
The Kenya Drill Team
The team is led by George Masika and Davison Chengoni. Davison has been WHOlives' trainer and Drill Master for many years, travelling all over Africa to train new drill teams. Together, they lead a team of 5–6 local drill crew members.
The team operates primarily along the coast south of Mombasa in Kwale County, but their long track record means they do business all over Eastern Kenya.
Their current work is roughly 70% community-funded wells and 30% paid wells, though the proportion of cash clients is growing — which is exactly why they need a second drill.
Why This Project
This project aligns strongly with CTT's values:
- Local leadership — the team is Kenyan-led, locally-based, and independently operated
- Self-sustaining — the business generates its own revenue; no ongoing funding needed from CTT
- Proven methodology — the Village Drill is WHOlives' core technology, and this team has 13+ years of experience using it
- Exceptional cost-efficiency — a one-time investment of $30,000 USD will deliver clean water to thousands of people every year, for years to come
- Counterfactual impact — without external funding, a small drill team in Kenya simply cannot accumulate $30,000 in capital. Without this investment, those extra wells don't get drilled
How It Compares to the Liberia Project
| Liberia (2023–2025) | Kenya (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $80,000 NZD ($50k USD) | $48,000 NZD ($30k USD) |
| Drill | Brand new | Used (inspected and confirmed in good condition) |
| Team | New team, needed training | Experienced team — 13+ years |
| Timeline | Extended (delays, training) | 4–6 months to operational |
| Revenue | To be established | Already generating cash revenue |
| Ongoing CTT cost | None (delivered) | None — one-time investment |
The WHOlives Model
WHOlives operates a Village Drill Purchase Assistance Fund to get drills into the hands of competent local drillers. The goal is to maximise the number of wells drilled and people gaining access to clean water.
The Kenya team is enrolled in WHOlives' Community Funded Well program, which means they will pay back the cost of the drill over time — keeping the fund growing so it can support future drill teams. WHOlives has established tracking and reporting systems for community-funded wells, and the Kenya team will report on their cash wells too.
Learn more about the WHOlives model: wholives.org/our-mission/model
Investment
| Item | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Used Village Drill Hybrid (located in Kenya) | $20,000 |
| Electric adapter kit | $5,000 |
| Shipping & spare parts | $5,000 |
| Total | $30,000 USD (~$48,000 NZD) |
Updates
May 2026:
CTT confirmed funding for a second Village Drill Hybrid for the Kenya team. The used drill is located in-country and has been inspected and approved by the WHOlives drill master. WHOlives has all parts in stock and has shipped to Kenya many times. The adapter kit and spare parts are expected to ship by end of May 2026. The team is expected to be up and running with two drills within 4–6 months.
"We're very grateful for your support and look forward to partnering with you on this great project." — Mike Anderson, WHOlives