9 year-old Kenyan given state award for hand-wash invention

A Kenyan boy is among this year's recipients of state commendations for his invention of a handwashing machine.

Nine-year-old Stephen Wamukota used wood to suspend a jerrycan of water and create a pedal to be used to dispense water and soap and avoid contact.

He had told his mother that the available hand-washing facilities in his hometown in western Kenya were exposing people to coronavirus through contact.

His father, who is a carpenter, helped him build his handwashing machine.

The boy is among 68 people who were recognised for steering the country through the coronavirus pandemic.They were conferred with the inaugural Presidential Uzalendo (Patriotism) Award.

Kenyans online were happy for the boy as this tweeter wrote:

Young Stephen Wamukota is also among the inaugural recipients of the Presidential Uzalendo Award due to his handwashing innovation. Surely rewards and goodness know no demographic nor age boundaries when you do good.
Congratulations pic.twitter.com/jaBelxOW4Z

— Agnes Kagure (@itsagneskagure) June 2, 2020