Britam Foundation has released its inaugural Impact Report, detailing how strategic investments in water access, maternal health, environmental restoration, and enterprise development have positively impacted more than 92,000 people and created 1,358 jobs since the Foundation began operations in late 2024.
The Foundation’s water programme has emerged as its flagship intervention, delivering solar-powered boreholes and hygiene education to more than 90,000 learners and community members across 70 schools in four East African countries — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
In arid counties such as Kitui and Kajiado, where water scarcity forces children to walk several kilometres daily carrying heavy jerrycans, rehabilitated boreholes installed by the Foundation now produce an average of 9,291 litres of water per day. The installations have eliminated operational water costs for schools while freeing learners to focus on education. Schools including Mutendea Comprehensive School in Kitui County and Olmapinu Primary School in Kajiado report that students now save an average of 5.9 hours per week previously spent fetching water. These improvements have contributed to a 15.4 per cent increase in school enrolment, as attendance stabilises and student health improves.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the Foundation has also established 21 school health clubs, promoting hygiene education and routine system maintenance.
These interventions come amid persistent national water insecurity. UNICEF data indicate that only 59 per cent of Kenyans have access to safe drinking water, falling to 56 per cent in rural areas, where the Foundation concentrates much of its work. Ministry of Water figures show that approximately 28 million Kenyans lack reliable access to safe water, forcing households to rely on private vendors charging up to 52 times more than piped utility rates. In schools, the burden disproportionately affects girls, whose learning time is further reduced during menstruation when water-fetching responsibilities increase.
“Water is not philanthropy; it is development infrastructure,” said Tom Gitogo, Britam Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
“Our investment in solar water projects reduces operational burdens on schools, allowing scarce resources to be redirected into teaching and learning. This creates a deliberate loop — the more resilient and educated the community, the more stable our markets become.”
In healthcare, the Lea Salama Maternal Health Programme, implemented in partnership with Carolina for Kibera and Malaica Science, supported 305 uninsured expectant mothers in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s most underserved informal settlements. The programme achieved a 97 per cent skilled delivery rate, with mothers attending an average of six antenatal visits, double the national median. Additionally, 94 per cent of participating households reported reduced pregnancy-related expenses, while 97 per cent of mothers presented infants for first vaccinations, exceeding national immunisation benchmarks.
The programme addresses Kenya’s maternal mortality crisis. Government data place the national maternal mortality ratio at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, equating to nearly 5,000 preventable deaths annually. In informal settlements such as Kibera, the ratio rises to 706 per 100,000 live births. Ministry of Health data attribute 80 per cent of maternal deaths to poor quality of care rather than access alone, reinforcing the Foundation’s prevention-focused model combining community health workers, digital health tools, and facility-based deliveries.
Dr Peter Munga, Chair of the Britam Foundation Board, said the work reflects institutional responsibility rather than corporate goodwill.
“Our stability is intrinsically linked to the stability of the communities we serve. By advancing Health, Education, Environment, and Entrepreneurship, we ensure Britam’s legacy is measured not only by returns, but by the resilience we build into society.”
Environmental restoration has emerged as a significant driver of job creation. Through a partnership with Jumbo Charge Trust, the Foundation supported the reforestation of over 444 acres of the Mt Elgon water tower, planting 86,000 indigenous trees and creating 1,358 jobs through seed sourcing, nursery operations, and planting activities.
Overall, the Foundation has planted 95,235 trees across the region under its Environment pillar. Mt Elgon — one of Kenya’s five critical water towers — currently has forest cover below five per cent, threatening water supply for three counties and downstream ecosystems feeding Lakes Turkana and Victoria.
The initiative responds to Kenya’s intersecting climate and employment challenges. World Bank projections warn that climate change could push 43 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa into poverty by 2030 without urgent adaptation. Domestically, Kenya’s forest cover stands at 8.8 per cent, below the constitutional 10 per cent target, while droughts and floods continue to intensify.
At the same time, Kenya’s NEET rate — youth not in education, employment, or training — stands at 15 per cent among those aged 15–24, representing more than 2.9 million young people disconnected from skills development and income opportunities.
The Foundation supported 105 local nursery enterprises that supplied seedlings for the Mt Elgon project, aligning with Kenya Labour Market Information System data showing 89 per cent of youth employment occurs in the informal sector, where business support remains limited. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reports place youth unemployment between 12 and 18 per cent, with women disproportionately affected.
“At Britam Foundation, true impact is measured not by intent, but by lives changed and futures secured,” said Catherine Karita, Britam Foundation Director. “Our work deliberately bridges our four pillars, recognising that sustainable change occurs when multiple dimensions of wellbeing are addressed simultaneously.”
The Foundation operates with full transparency regarding funding and partnerships. Its water programme is implemented with Davis & Shirtliff, maternal health services with Carolina for Kibera and Malaica, and environmental restoration through Jumbo Charge Trust, working alongside Community Forest Associations and county authorities.
Britam Foundation’s programmes align with multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The Foundation is funded through a structured model in which Britam Holdings PLC allocates one per cent of annual profit after tax to community investment, embedding social impact into the company’s core financial planning.
