Water and Sanitation – Flamingonet

Water and Sanitation (WASH) Program

According to Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) of the World Bank and Kenya’s National Ministry of Health state of the sanitation data for Nakuru County 2014, only 41.3% is improved sanitation, 35.3 % comprise shared sanitation facilities, 23.3 % is unimproved sanitation. Open Defecation (OD) is rated at 2.8 % in the County. Going forward, the main intervention goal by department of Health in Nakuru County with her partners is to redress unimproved and OD levels (26.1 %) to acceptable levels of improved sanitation in the County.

Nakuru County loses Ksh. 978 million each year due to poor sanitation. This includes loses due to access time, premature death, healthcare costs and productivity. This estimate does not include some costs that could be significant (such as water pollution and tourism) and is therefore is likely to under-estimate the true cost of poor sanitation. The Constitution in Article 42 and 43 (b) guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment and to a reasonable standards of sanitation respectively. Universal access to improved sanitation yields maximum health, social and economic benefits.

The challenges regarding the two common types of sanitation i.e. pit latrines and septic tanks include the following:

Difficulty in exhausting as a result of dumping of solid wastes such as polythene paper, solid waste materials, maize cobs, sanitary pads, pampers etc. These materials are most often non-biodegradable and result into filling up of the toilet therefore reducing the lifespan of the facility.

Crumbling as a result of poor soils. The area is characterized by volcanic sands of pozzolanic origin with very poor load bearing capacity. This poses a big difficulty in digging as the walls crumble. The toilet facilities also collapse especially when it rains.

Smells and bad odor. Most of the toilets constructed are difficult to clean and maintain due to use of inferior building materials and poor workmanship. This renders the facility smelly.

Poor drainage and inadequate storm sewers. The area is on the lowest level of Nakuru City and therefore it is very prone to flooding. Flooding destroys the laid up facilities leading to major losses and environmental pollution.

Infested by flies and cockroaches. Most of these toilets are not used properly prompting infestation by flies, cockroaches and other rodents due to defecation of the slab.

Lack of hand washing facilities.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) plays a vital part in enhancing children' academic achievement, health, and general well-being in schools. Unfortunately, many educational institutions-especially those located in low-income areas—do not have the resources and infrastructure necessary to promote appropriate WASH practices. This project will enhance WASH infrastructure and put a comprehensive programs in place in schools, the project proposal seeks to focus on encouraging hygienic practices and guaranteeing that students have access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

Three programmatic strategic thrusts have been defined through which improved sanitation and hygiene will be attained:

Sustainable demand creation for sanitation and hygiene through health and hygiene awareness, community mobilization, hygiene and sanitation promotion, education and appropriate incentives for improved sanitation and hygiene communities. Household innovation will be encouraged and promoted.

Sanitation marketing to foster and sustain latrine/sanitation/hygiene facilities quality improvement, appropriate technology solutions, local private sector supply and supply chain strengthening.

An enabling framework responsive to and facilitating an accelerated scaling up through policy and legislation, coordination, comparative monitoring and incentives (fiscal and awards), and capacity building support to County Governments and other stakeholders.