Break the cycle of poverty and disease in Kenya

July – October 2025 Programme Activity Report

Dear SOTENI Supporters and Friends,

This quarter marked a period of rebuilding, renewal, and community reconnection across all three SOTENI Villages of Hope. After months of interruption following the end of the Procter & Gamble Clean Water Initiative project, our ABDs returned to the field in July and resumed the vital support so many families rely on. Their visits to more than 3000 support group members reactivated support group activites, revived clean-water practices, strengthened HIV medication adherence, and provided psychosocial support to households that had gone too long without a trusted touchpoint. Hope and momentum returned quickly as communities welcomed the ABDs back.

Economic empowerment efforts also regained stability. Entrepreneurial Training program follow-ups in SVH Ugunja showed that many participants launched or revived small businesses, while table banking, kithcen gardens, animal rearing, etc became most reliable income-generating model across groups. Even where businesses struggled, the determination to learn and rebuild has remained strong.

At the Level 2 SVH Mbakalo Clinic, primary healthcare services continued uninterrupted. Nearly 600 clients received outpatient, maternal, child wellness, laboratory, and eye-care services since July 2025. The clinic, SOTENI’s longest-running facility, has served more than 15,000 rural residents for over 20 years and is the only health facility in the area that has remained open 24/7 throughout that time. Yet it still lacks a maternity ward, inpatient beds, and reliable power and water. This year, the facility took important steps toward its long-awaited Level 3 upgrade, which will introduce maternity beds, diagnostic capacity, and strengthen emergency services for the entire community. Challenges such as power outages and increasing operational demands continue, but the dedication of clinic staff ensures essential services remain open every day.

A major highlight of the quarter came in October, when six SOTENI runners proudly represented our mission at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in Nairobi. Their participation launched the “Run for Mbakalo Health Clinic” Campaign, a bold initiative to raise funds to upgrade the rural Level 2 facility into a Level 3 Health Center. Through this campaign, SOTENI aims to add 15 inpatient beds, build a maternity unit, install diagnostic equipment, ensure reliable electricity and clean water, and strengthen staff capacity, all to guarantee safe, 24/7 care for thousands of families in Bungoma county.

Across all programs, one theme remains constant: communities are rebuilding, and your support is helping bridge the gaps left by widespread funding disruptions in rural Kenya. Because of you, families continue to access healthcare, clean water, economic opportunity, and hope.

Thank you for standing with SOTENI Kenya and the communities we serve.

Links:

• SOTENI International Website

April – June 2025 Programme Activity Report

Between April and June 2025, SOTENI Kenya made impactful strides across its Villages of Hope, especially at SVH Mbakalo Dispensary, which remained the hub of primary healthcare services and innovation. During this quarter, over 600 patients received outpatient, maternal, child wellness, and eye care services, ensuring access to vital healthcare in underserved communities.

At the heart of these efforts was our TIKO Africa program, which provides free family planning commodities to girls aged 15–19. Through this initiative, our clinic supported dozens of young women with reproductive health services and education, contributing to lower teenage pregnancy rates. TIKO’s revenue-sharing model has also strengthened the dispensary’s financial sustainability by covering drug procurement and motivating frontline staff. Despite challenges with data reporting accuracy, the program continues to deliver life-changing care.

Another standout service was our Community Eye Clinic, run in partnership with the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK). Patients received affordable vision screening and free reading glasses, with proceeds reinvested to support the clinic’s operational costs. This low-cost, high-impact intervention has deepened trust in our health services while making vision care accessible.

We also marked progress in maternal and newborn care. Two staff members completed emergency obstetric and neonatal training, preparing the facility to respond more effectively to complications during delivery and early infancy. This capacity-building effort was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and aligns with our broader goal of improving maternal health outcomes.

In the agricultural wing, challenges arose at SVH Mituntu, where the breakdown of a borehole stalled farming activities and disrupted water access for the nearby school and community. Meanwhile, support groups in SVH Ugunja continued to operate and flourish their small businesses, building on previous entrepreneurship training.

Like many nonprofits globally, we are navigating a challenging funding landscape. In 2024, our long-standing partnership and grant from P&G came to an end, which significantly impacted our operating budget. As a result, we made the strategic decision to relocate SOTENI Kenya’s headquarters from Nairobi to SVH Mbakalo, where the majority of our current operations are based. This includes our 24/7 dispensary, which now serves as the central hub for delivering healthcare and community programs. Despite these shifts, our team remains resilient and deeply committed to sustaining essential services in rural communities. Thanks in large part to your continued support.

Our programs remain a vital lifeline for health, opportunity, and dignity across our Villages of Hope. Your generosity fuels everything from a child’s first vaccination to a teenager’s path to empowerment. Together, we are building healthier, more resilient communities, one life at a time.

Thank you for standing with us.

With deep gratitude for your belief in our work,

Dr. Pooja Rachewad

Operations Manager, SOTENI International

Links:

• SOTENI International Website