WHAT A RELIEF IN MBEERE SOUTH
In November 2021, the government of Kenya assured its citizens of support in eliminating open defecation in the country by 2025. This commitment at the Kenya Sanitation Alliance Forum targeted 15 counties with the highest rates of open defecation.
The strategy was to ensure access to safe water and improve sanitation standards countrywide. That meant an obligation to build toilet facilities in schools and public areas.
Background information
Some households still lack pit latrines and handwashing facilities. There is a report that family members resort to defecating in the bushes. The study shows that water-borne illnesses are common in the region, and highly likely caused by poor sanitation.
There is little information publicly available as to whether the strategy reached implementation. Mbeere South County, one of the administrative areas with the problem, has taken the bull by its horns to eliminate the issue since there are public health consequences from open defecation, causing diseases like diarrhoea.
Measures
The specific step taken in Mbeere is to construct lavatories able to handle multiple numbers of users concurrently. The project, simultaneously conducted in two secondary schools and three primary schools—all public schools, is now complete and commissioned.
When we conducted a pre-visit to the schools in April, we found them in a deplorable state. For instance, the headteacher of Ngenge Primary, Mr Gaturu, narrated how they experienced long queues during class breaks as students jostled to use the few facilities available to a school with about 250 students. It often resulted in open defecation as a stop-gap measure.
ProudlyKenyan
This project is as a result of the collaboration between ProudlyKenyan and NALSA(K). Check here for an overview of other ProudlyKenyan sponsored projects in partnership with us.
Conclusion
It is a great relief that the students do not have to form long queues to the facilities. The project is two-fold as there was a commitment to providing school-going girls with reusable sanitary pads. Considering the vastness of the problem area, this may appear as a drop in the ocean. Citizens can see that external help is available in order to complement government efforts.
With the leadership’s will to eliminate open defecation, one step at a time, the area will no longer have to go to the bush.
Gladys King’ang’i is the initiator of the project and NALSA(K)’s Mbeere South representative.
Post by Brian Anyanzwa.
Photos courtesy of ProudlyKenyan.