The Kisumu County Government has unveiled ambitious plans to boost sanitation coverage from the current 25% to 70% by 2027, a key milestone in Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s manifesto. This announcement was made by the County Director for Public Health and Sanitation, Frederick Oluoch, during the 2024 World Toilet Day celebrations in Kisumu.
“We have made remarkable strides towards our 70% target, and I can gladly report that by 2022, we had reached 33.1% coverage,” Oluoch said.
He attributed this progress to collaborative efforts with partners such as the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), USAID, and the National Government, who have implemented market-based sanitation initiatives and community-led approaches to combat open defecation.
Kenya faces a sanitation crisis, with over 20 million people relying on unsanitary or shared latrines, a condition that exposes women and girls to risks such as sexual violence due to lack of privacy. Kisumu County is currently grappling with a 4.8% open defecation rate. Oluoch stated that the county aims to reduce this figure to 1% by leveraging solutions like market-based sanitation and behavioral change campaigns.
The director emphasized the importance of transitioning improved toilets from 26% to 50% in Kisumu County, a move he believes will fast-track the realization of the sanitation goals.
Efforts to enhance sanitation in Kisumu, particularly in informal settlements, have received significant financial support. The LVBC has allocated KSh 800 million to modernize sanitation infrastructure, including the improvement of 550 toilet blocks in Manyatta A and the upgrading of a 15-kilometer sewer line.
LVBC Project Coordinator for Integrated Resource Management, Eng. Arsene Mukubwa, highlighted the intervention’s broader aim of transforming the Lake Region into an economic hub by ensuring clean water access and improved sanitation.
“Negotiations are underway for an additional KSh 800 million in 2025 to address sanitation challenges in the slums,” Mukubwa revealed.
Mukubwa also emphasized the need to protect Lake Victoria from pollution, noting that it is a shared resource among neighboring countries. The funding allocated to Manyatta A will be utilized to make the area a model for improved sanitation and community development.
The 2024 World Toilet Day, themed “Sanitation for Peace,” underscores the urgency of addressing sanitation challenges worldwide. With 3.5 billion people lacking access to safely managed sanitation, the event called for a concerted effort to uphold sanitation and hygiene as fundamental human rights.
