Kenya Sanitation Alliance Launches Key Documents to Enhance Sanitation and Hygiene

Kenya: In a significant move to improve sanitation and hygiene across the country, the Kenya Sanitation Alliance, supported by the Government, has launched new sanitation and hygiene documents. This initiative, in collaboration with USAID and UNICEF, brought together representatives from all 47 counties in Kenya.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Ministry of Health’s policy objectives encompass scaling up rural and urban sanitation, achieving universal access to improved sanitation by 2030, and ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all Kenyans through appropriate technology. Further aims include strengthening the institutional and human resource capacity in the environmental sector, ensuring sustainable financing for sanitation through public and private investment, establishing effective research development frameworks for sanitation, approving technology choices for evidence-informed decision-making, and establishing a functional monitoring and evaluation framework for maximum accountability in policy implementation.

State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, while unveiling the documents, outlined the roles of County Governments in managing county sanitation services. These responsibilities include licensing and controlling establishments that sell food, managing cemeteries, funeral parlours, and crematoriums.

In a speech delivered on her behalf by Dr Kamene Kimenye, Head of the Directorate of Public Health, Muthoni highlighted the importance of collaboration in implementing these initiatives. She expressed gratitude to the collaborating governments, ministries, partners, stakeholders, the Council of Governors, the Chair of Health Committee in the County Assemblies, and the private sector for their contributions to the development of these documents.

Deputy Director of Public Health Mr. Anthony Wainaina emphasized the Kenya Rural and Hygiene Protocols, which focus on six blocks including latrine construction and use, faecal sludge disposal, hand washing practices, food hygiene, safe water handling, and maintaining a clean home environment.

Wainaina also addressed the issue of open defecation, calling it a significant health risk. He cited Bolivia as an example where despite financial assistance for building latrines, the practice of open defecation persisted due to unaltered behavioral patterns. UNICEF representative Mahboob Bajwa echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for behavior change over monetary solutions.

Dr. Emmanuel Wamalwa, a public health expert representing the Council of Governors, disclosed that about 30% of County finances are allocated to healthcare. He called on stakeholders and partners to optimize these investments and noted that devolution has improved social accountability in the health sector.