Kisumu Launches Sanitation Project to Transform Conditions in Informal Settlements

Kisumu, Kenya – Two informal settlements in Kisumu, Manyatta and Obunga, are set to receive modern sanitation facilities in a project costing approximately 19.5 million shillings. This initiative aims to enhance the living conditions similar to successful outcomes in Nyalenda and Nyamasaria slums.

According to Kenya News Agency, the organization implementing the project in collaboration with the national government, the initiative is funded through the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWDA) with significant involvement from the Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company. Caroline Mwangi, a sanitation expert at Seureca, shared at a public forum held at Magadi primary school that the project offers two types of sanitation facilities: a modern pit latrine and a power flush toilet system.

The modern pit latrines, slated for a pilot introduction in the Koyango area, cannot connect to sewer lines due to specific challenges like the low water table. Conversely, the power flush system holds potential for future connection to sewer systems, offering more sustainable benefits. Mwangi emphasized that these initiatives are part of broader efforts to engage local property owners in environmental management and prevent degradation.

Discussion at the forum also touched on the environmental impact of disposable diapers and sanitary towels, which frequently clog toilets and drainage systems, exacerbating pollution in Lake Victoria. The meeting addressed the urgent need for proper waste management to combat these challenges.

Mwangi further explained the technical specifications of the VIP latrines, designed to accommodate the high water table in Kisumu, limiting excavation depths to between 2.5 and 3 meters. The project also plans to introduce a large public ablution block, measuring 20 meters by 20 meters, managed under a community-driven model termed “Dwellers Drive.” Local ward and village administrators, alongside elders, will oversee the facilities’ usage to ensure they serve the community effectively.

Additionally, there have been concerns about misuse of the facilities, with instances of landlords converting public toilets into private assets, thereby denying access to the intended beneficiaries. Mwangi highlighted the importance of contractual agreements with landlords to safeguard the communal nature of these projects and ensure ongoing public benefit.

Legal safeguards are also being put in place, including stipulations on land sales within the project area to ensure the continuity of public benefits from the sanitation facilities.