We have to give credit where it’s due when we see ingenuity making a difference in communities. In Kenya, a nine-year-old boy has made a wooden hand-washing machine to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
The machine allows users to tip a bucket of water using a foot pedal to avoid touching surfaces to reduce infections. The boy, Stephen Wamukota, came up with the idea after learning on TV about ways to prevent catching the virus.
“I had bought some pieces of wood to make a window frame, but when I came back home after work one day I found that Stephen had made the machine,” said James Wamukota, the father of Stephen. “The concept was his and I helped tighten the machine. I’m very proud,” he said.
Mr. Wamukota, who repairs electronic goods for a living, said that his son has always been keen to learn his trade. He posted his son’s invention on Facebook and was surprised how quickly it was shared, he said.
But it’s not only Facebook users that are giving Stephen praise; this week, Stephen received the Presidential Order of Service, an award that honors the work of citizens. He was “very happy” after receiving the presidential award, and has plans to make more hand-washing machines for the Mukwa village where he lives.
