Kisumu – The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in its Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 has rated Kisumu highly in terms of living standards, particularly in sanitation.
According to Kenya News Agency, only 5% of Kisumu residents practice open defecation. However, the report also highlighted a high prevalence of domestic violence in the region, although the situation in Kisumu is comparatively better than most neighboring counties.
The survey indicated that while Kisumu faces issues in gender-based violence, the prevalence is lower than in neighboring counties like Homabay, which reported a very high incidence of Gender Based Violence (GBV), albeit still below the national level. A report covering the period from February to July 2022 showed that Kisumu County excels in family planning and child care, with significantly low child mortality rates. Fredrick Oluoch, Director of Health Services in Kisumu, acknowledged the county’s strong performance in health and sanitation. He emphasized the importance of addressing areas needing improvement, such as the 5% prevalence of open defecation and the fact that 17% of Kisumu’s population still uses contaminated water, with 20% lacking access to clean water.
Oluoch pointed out that while Kisumu’s urban center shows progress, the rural areas still struggle with using surface water and inadequate sanitation facilities. In response, he announced plans to improve access to clean water and proper sewage systems as part of the county’s commitment to enhancing public health and sanitation.
The Kisumu County government is actively working to address both sanitation and gender-based violence issues. The county’s department of water is focusing on improving sanitation coverage from 25% to 70% and sewerage coverage from 18% to 25%. Governor Anyang Nyong’o’s agenda, as outlined in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), includes strategic objectives and strong advocacy efforts from the health department and gender and women representatives to address these critical areas.