The Community

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The Kacece community consists of the students of Kongasis Primary School, staff and the parents. It also includes all the neighboring families living in Kimugul, Kisabo, Kaptembwo, Ketitui, Kamijeiwet and Sitian villages. The population of these communities is over 10,000 people; the majority of them are of the Kipsigis tribe. These communities are served by four public primary schools, one secondary school and one clinic.

Before Kenya's independence, during colonial times, this area was known as the white highlands and was known world wide for its large tea plantations. While there are still large tea farms, the majority of people are subsistence farmers who live on land they have purchased ranging from a quarter of an acre to more than one hundred acres. Some of the people are the grandchildren of former colonial farmers who lived as squatters until recently when they acquired small pieces of land.

In the entire area there is no electricity, running water, sanitation system and no water treatment plants. The majority of people collect their water from seasonal rivers, rain water and private springs. The roads are dirt and small streams are forded using simple bridges constructed by the villagers themselves. The roads are impassable during the rainy season. These hardships of everyday life are why KACECE is so important to the community. At KACECE area youth can get an affordable, high quality Christian education rooted in African cultural traditions and values. At KACECE there is a community free library - the first of its kind in a rural area. At KACECE there is an opportunity to participate in community development projects to help people progress out of poverty and earn enough money to educate their children. At KACECE there is a link to the outside world - access to computers and to educated professionals who can advocate with the government for needed public services.

 

 

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