Narok – Edward Tankoi, the Narok County Public Health Director, has revealed a critical sanitation issue in Narok, with 24 percent of its population resorting to open defecation, posing a severe risk of communicable diseases spreading throughout the community.
According to Kenya News Agency, who disclosed these figures during a planning meeting for the upcoming World Toilet Day (WTD), Narok County stands as one of the 15 counties in Kenya grappling with low toilet coverage. The planning session took place in the Olokurto area in Narok North Sub County and brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, non-governmental organizations focusing on health, religious leaders, and community members.
The situation is particularly alarming in Narok West sub-county, where 49% of the population does not use toilets, followed by Narok South at 36%. “We should put more effort into the two sub-counties that are dragging behind by sensitising them to the need to build a toilet in their homesteads,” Mr. Tankoi emphasized, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.
Ms. Lucy Kashu, the county Chief Officer in charge of Promotion of Health Services, also voiced her concerns during the meeting, noting that Narok County’s significant open defecation rates place it among the top 15 high-risk counties in Kenya. She stressed the importance of this year’s WTD in creating awareness and reducing the number of people practicing open defecation.
“The county government will work closely with the organising committee to ensure that the day is a success. This year’s event will be graced by Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu alongside the CECM for health and sanitation,” Ms. Kashu added, outlining the support and high-level participation expected for the event.
To facilitate the WTD commemoration on November 19th, the committee has set aside a budget of approximately 1.2 million. The event will take place in the Olokurto area, providing a platform for concerted efforts to address the sanitation crisis in Narok County and advocate for improved public health through proper toilet use.