By Water East Africa Magazine
A Canadian dentist is combining adventure, philanthropy and community development to improve access to safe water in rural Kenya. Dr. Mohammed Saigar, co-founder of the W Foundation, is leading fundraising efforts to finance new borehole wells that are transforming lives in underserved villages where clean drinking water remains scarce.
The initiative focuses on drilling boreholes in remote Kenyan communities, each serving approximately 300 to 400 families. By providing reliable access to clean groundwater, the projects eliminate the need for residents—particularly women and girls—to walk long distances in search of water, reducing the daily burden of water collection while improving health and quality of life.
According to Dr. Saigar, one of the programme’s most significant outcomes is its impact on education. In many rural communities, girls are traditionally responsible for fetching water, often walking up to 20 kilometres each day. With safe water now available closer to home, more girls are able to attend school consistently, giving them greater opportunities to complete their education and improve their future prospects.
The W Foundation works in partnership with trusted local non-governmental organisations and community groups in Kenya to identify priority locations and oversee the construction of the boreholes. Demand for the programme continues to grow, with requests now coming not only from villages but also from hospitals, maternity facilities and correctional institutions seeking reliable access to safe water.
To support the initiative, Dr. Saigar and his team organise community fundraising activities in Canada, including charity yard sales, while also undertaking personal fundraising campaigns linked to endurance events. In August, the dentist plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro before travelling to Kenya to commission two newly completed boreholes, using the expedition to raise additional funds for future water projects.
The foundation currently supports the construction of between 12 and 20 boreholes each year, demonstrating how international partnerships and grassroots fundraising can make a meaningful contribution to improving water access in rural Africa. Beyond delivering clean drinking water, the programme is helping strengthen education, public health and community development, reinforcing the critical role that sustainable water infrastructure plays in achieving long-term social and economic resilience.