Communities lead the way for improved sanitation

According to a 2009 evaluation by World Vision’s Nyatike Integrated Programme Area (IPA), only 26 per cent of homes have latrines. 

The poor latrine coverage prompted the IPA to intervene. Communities were enlightened communities to adopt appropriate sanitation and hygienic practices through the implementation of water, hygiene and sanitation projects. The project aims to reduce the incidences of water borne diseases by 2013.

In February, 40 community health workers were trained in a Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach. In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS) and World Vision, the training sought to mobilise communities to improve their sanitation by focusing on eliminating open defecation, which has for a long time been commonplace in the community.

This training transformed into action. There has been an increase in pit latrine coverage in 59 villages within the area. 

“We used to struggle with creating awareness among the community on the importance of using latrines,” observes Collins Omollo, Kaler division’s public health officer. Collins says the community-led approach to sanitation has made it easier to gain public support. 

“We thank World Vision for facilitating the triggering process in Kaler, which is now enjoying high latrine use,” Collins adds

By March, more than 400 latrines were being constructed within the area, where households were digging up structures. Currently, Kaler has 2,481 households, out of which 1,005 have latrines. Construction of additional toilets is ongoing, and the latrine coverage rate has increased by 34 per cent within just two months, Collins says.

Since the community led total sanitation initiative, four villages have been declared open defecation free, namely Bande B, Chemachichi B, Kibuon, and Nyamitha A. This means that almost every homestead or household has a pit latrine, and hence proper utilisation of the facilities has resulted in a decrease in illnesses related to poor hygiene and sanitation.

An April 2012 monitoring report by the area’s public health officer indicated that 15 additional villages were to be declared open defecation free zones by end of May.

The latrines are being constructed using locally available materials. The toilets are being constructed using mud, wood, grass and sometimes iron sheets. More than 21 million Kenyans, more than half the country’s population, use unsanitary shared latrines while 5.6 million others lack latrines altogether, forcing them to defecate in the open, the World Bank says.

Myths surrounding latrines have also contributed to open defecation. In parts of Western Kenya for example, women are not expected to use the same toilet with their fathers-in-law, and vice versa. 

‘‘For a long time we stuck to such myths and so we did not consider construction of latrines important. But after involving the community in CLTS, a number of people in my village have changed their attitudes and are taking sanitation seriously. A number of latrines structures are coming up despite the fact that majority of them are temporary,” says Joseph Onyuok Owili of Kaler.

The Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach is not only addressing the issue of latrines in the area, but also rubbish disposal, where the community has received advice on how to dispose of their garbage in an environmentally-friendly manner.