Sanitation Study in Kenya

Sanitation facility on plot in Kaptembwo (Nakuru), photo by Laura Kraft (2010)

To respond to the urgent need to improve sanitation in urban areas GTZ together with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Water Services Trust Fund decided to implement a preliminary study to elaborate a sustainable sanitation concept on how to improve the sanitation situation in low-income areas focussing on sanitation service provision on household and plot level.

Typical plot in Manyatta (Kisumu), photo by Laura Kraft (2010)

The objective of the study was to identify strategies and concepts for delivering sustainable sanitation services to the low-income population which are affordable and accessible.

Toilet on top of an open drain in Mathare (Nairobi) photo by Laura Kraft (2010)

To include up to date information, and get a good overview of the sanitation service provision in low-income areas, we conducted field visits in selected areas. Where we focused on two types of low income areas:

Type1: planned areas like Magongeni (Nairobi), Anderson (Kisumu) and Flamingo (Nakuru)

City council houses with yard tap in Anderson (Kisumu) photo by Laura Kraft (2010)

Type 2: unplanned areas like Mathare (Nairobi), Manyatta (Kisumu) and Kaptembwo (Nakuru)

Iron sheet and mud houses in Mathare (Nairobi) photo by Laura Kraft (2010)

The study shall serve the Kenyan water sector and the WSTF in particular as a basis for the development of a national household sanitation concept to improve service provision and increase access to basic sanitation in the medium to long-term.

Kids in Mathare (Nairobi) photo by Laura Kraft (2010)

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Results of ecosan vision workshop in Nairobi

Objectives:

To facilitate a vision exercise possibly a team building process that can lead to the establishment of ESF Kenya

Participants attended:

Participants of the workshops were from water companies, water board, beneficiaries of some existing ecosan projects, NGOs working in grass root level.

PRESENTATIONS:

Experiences from Ecosan Promotion Project (EPP), download here
Experiences from Red cross:

Experiences from ROSA

Sanitation Service Challenges by WSTF, Mr. Okoth

Success Story of ESF and Seecon in India

Mobilisation of ecosan approach in India

Discussion - Conclusions for future development of ecosan:

•Allocation of funds for IEC(esp. awareness raising).
•Need to coordinate Kenyan ecosan activities.
•WSTF yet not impressed ecosan (pre-requisite for funding is existing sewer system).
•Major challenge in informal settlements (e.g. slums): town, water and sanitation planning have to go hand-in-hand.
•The same things are done over and over again, there is no coordination and networking.
•Output has to be shared with Ministries and responsible policy makers.
•More funds has to be invested in awareness creation -we have to change the mind set to bring demand driven approach
•Decision makers and key stakeholders have to be involved through policies
•economic incentives (especially in urban areas) are missing (w.r.to reuse of urine).
•schools: O&M of sanitation systems is an issue.
•address cultural issues (e.g. use of urine, etc.).
•lack of space in urban areas.
•research required to proof safety and dissemination of results.
•break cultural block through education, awareness.
•community participation is needed.design: to be improved (especially UDDT).

Questions for group discussion “Do we need an ESF-Kenya”?:

1.Why?
2.Role?
3.Tasks?
4.Structure?
5.Partners?
6.Further Issues?

Groups answers:

Group 1:
1.Yes; need for body to coordinate; information & knowledge sharing; harmonize policies in sanitation
2.Can coordinate and do capacity building for different stakeholders
3.knowledge & information management; capacity development; quality assurance
4.society of professional players
5.Donor organisations; NGOs (national, international); government of Kenya (Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation); Water and sanitation companies; Research institutes (KARI); Public Universities; Private sector.

Group 2:
1.Yes; Information is limited as far as ecosan is concerned
2.training; networking and education
3.empower existing organisations and undertake ecosan projects
4.NGOs and governmental organisationsSustainability; exit plans required.

Group 3:
1.Don’t know why
2.Coordination of all NGO wastewater and sanitation activities
3.Support private sector; sell ecosan concepts
4.After 4 years of gtz ecosan in Kenya no partners
5.Private sector have to be the key player; a private sector structure
6.If the government does not support ecosan there is no sustainability.

Group 4:
1.Yes; bring all actors together; act as knowledge bank and link to other “banks” in the world;
2.Promote capacity building; resource mobilisation; IEC; offer sustainable affordable and sustainable sanitation
3.Promote capacity building; resource mobilisation; IEC; offer sustainable affordable and ecological sanitation
4.NGO structure
5.Other NGOs; donors; CBOs; government and institutions; contractors
6.Use existing structures & institutions; logistics/staffing.

Group 5:
1.Yes; promotion sustainable use of resources; promotion of environ. sustainability;
2.Promotion of renewable energy, reuse of human waste, ecosan concepts for creating awareness
3.Cap. development (trainings, …); Pilot projects; up-scaling; social marketing; lobbying & advocacy
4.Resource and training centre; board of trustees; CEOs,
5.NEMA; Universities; Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI); Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MPH&S), Ministry of Education (MOE), NGOs, private sector, financial inst., Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources (MOE&NR)
6.Revaluate what is there, identify the gaps and see what is needed.

Group 6:
1.Yes
2.There is no organisation promoting sanitation in cities,
3.Collection of information; sharing of best practices; monitoring and evaluation; research & development; influence policy formulation & implementation
4.network
5.NGOs; government; research inst.
6.Environmental sustainability; Ecosan has to be promoted where people do farming and have toilets.

Mr. Patrick P. Onyango, GTZ Water Sector Reform Program, M. Wafler, 2010.

Eng. P. L. Ombogo, Dir. Water Sector Reforms in MWI, M. Wafler, 2010.

Mr. Johannes Heeb, seecon international gmbh, M. Wafler, 2010.

Ms. Pradnya Thakur, Ecosan Services Foundation, M. Wafler, 2010.

Participants interacting during tea break, M. Wafler, 2010.

Participants studying ecosan information material, M. Wafler, 2010.

Presentation of findings on “Do we need an ESF-Kenya?”, M. Wafler, 2010.

Group photo, M. Wafler, 2010.

Observations and Conclusion:

•In Kenya sustainable sanitation is promoted as an isolation “stand alone” basis and was not seen as general practice.
•There are organisation mainly focussing on the water business and lesser emphasis on sanitation business activities.
•The existing networks are mainly of water companies.
•There is no organisation focusing only on ‘Ecosan’ or ‘Sustainable sanitation aspect’.
•An Alliance (a similar to SuSanA) should be established linking water and sanitation professionals as well as non-governmental institutions. Idea of bringing in different government initiatives in sustainable sanitation network will be worth trying.
•Professionally managed network of organizations and professionals with a permanent secretariat may be a key to success.
•The key objective of the network which the permanent secretrait to generate is “visibility of the initiatives” as well as to reach the critical mass, for up-scaling and mainstreaming sustainable sanitation in Kenya.
•None of the existing organisation is willing to take responsibility to mobilise the network. A very strong consensus emerged after the group works and discussions for need of ESF_Kenya, similar to that of ESF India as one stop-shop solution.

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Results of ecosan capacity development workshop

Objective:

To teach sanitation experts, community officers who are from Ecosan projects, water institutions and NGO’s on training concepts and good practises of Ecosan.

Participants attended: 17.

Participants of the workshops were from water companies, water board, beneficiaries of some existing ecosan projects, NGOs working in grass root level.

Agenda of Workshop:

- Wrap-up Field Trip, facilitated by Mr. Wafler (seecon gmbh) and Ms. Thakur (ESF-India).
- National Sanitation Policies/strategies (Input presentation & Discussion), facilitated by Mr. Onyango (GTZ).
- Community Participation (Group Work & Consolidation) facilitated by Mr. Wafler (seecon gmbh) & Mr. Osumba (GTZ-ecosan).
- Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Campaign in Africa & Asia (Input Presentations & Discussion), facilitated by Mr. Otieno (Plan Intern-ational) & Ms. Thakur (ESF India).
- Social Marketing for Behaviour Change, facilitated by Ms. Thakur (ESF-India).
- Monitoring & Evaluation (Groupwork & Consolidation), facilitated by Mr. Wakala (GTZ-ecosan) & Mr. Wafler (seecon gmbh).
-Initiation of Capacity Building Initiatives (Input Presentation), facilitated by Ms. Thakur (ESF-India).
- Financing of ecosan Activities in Kenya (Facilitated Group Discussion), facilitated by Mr. Wafler (seecon gmbh) & facilitation of group discussion by Ms Thakur (ESF-India).

Participants and resource persons, photo by M. Marfler, 2010.

Participants interacting in a group work, photo by M. Marfler, 2010.

Participants performing a role play on promotion of ecosan, photo by M. Marfler, 2010.

Group photo, photo by M. Marfler, 2010.

Felicitation of Participants, photo by M. Marfler, 2010.

Observations:

•A diversified group of participants was present for the workshop.
• Very active participation from all the participants.
• Major emphasis was on financing from government.
• Some subjects like social marketing and initiation of capacity building approach was new to them.
• Participants expressed need of such program in future.

Feedback, M. Marfler, 2010.

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Nakuru school UDDTs - ROSA poject - tour study - ecosan workshop

Objective:

To familiarise the Kenyan Stakeholders with the local conditions in order to provide the proper context for the organisational development of “ESF Kenya”.

Sites Visited:

•Urine-Diverting Dehydrating Toilets (UDDTs) at the household and school levels, •Decentralized wastewater management plants comprising of biogas digesters
•Bio-Latrine-Centres installed for public places such as markets, bus parks, and boat landings and informal settlements.

Project is operated and maintained by Ugunja municipal body on trial run to see the cost effectiveness of the project with reference to O and M of the project.

Small-scale constructed wetland planted for treatment of greywater, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.

Girls’ and boys’ UDDTs at Crater View Secondary School, Nakuru, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.


Stagnant urine in urine-diversion squatting pan due to blockage of urine pipe, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.

Drying shed for processing faecal matter from UDDTs, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.

Wetland for Grey water treatment, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.

Urinal for boys, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.

Urinal for girls, M.Wafler, and P. Thakur 2010.

Observations / comments made:

•Grey water management system was ok.
•Toilet block was not well maintained
•No internal lock for door at girls toilet block
•Urine collection tank which was underground was fill and no further storage system
•Majority of the wholes in urine pan was blocked
• Project is over so lack of resources for post implementation support.
•The nice part is further scale up of this project in this area so Need of further capacity building at the project to make it sustainable.

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Mumias household UDDTs - study tour - ecosan workshop

Objective:

To familiarise the Kenyan Stakeholders with the local conditions in order to provide the proper context for the organisational development of “ESF Kenya”.

Sites Visited:

•Urine-Diverting Dehydrating Toilets (UDDTs) at the household and school levels,
•Decentralized wastewater management plants comprising of biogas digesters
•Bio-Latrine-Centres installed for public places such as markets, bus parks, and boat landings and informal settlements.

Project is operated and maintained by Ugunja municipal body on trial run to see the cost effectiveness of the project with reference to O and M of the project.

Houses of Beneficiaries, P. Thakur, September 2010.
Double door UDDT at Mumias, P Thakur, September 2010.

Faecal compost, P. Thakur, September 2010.

UDDT with Roof top rainwater harvesting, P. Thakur, September 2010.

Crops with urine application, P. Thakur, september 2010.

Crops without urine application, P. Thakur, September 2010.


Observations / comments made:

•Well maintained toilet block
• Toilet block with rainwater harvesting system is really a sustainable solution
•Reuse of ecosan product and comparative study with-urine and without urine is good example.
•Need of documentation of reuse aspect and case study

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Rambula school DEWATS, pour flush and biogas - study tour - ecosan workshop

Objectives:
To familiarise the Kenyan Stakeholders with the local conditions in order to provide the proper context for the organisational development of “ESF Kenya”.

Sites Visited:
•Urine-Diverting Dehydrating Toilets (UDDTs) at the household and school levels, •Decentralized wastewater management plants comprising of biogas digesters
•Bio-Latrine-Centres installed for public places such as markets, bus parks, and boat landings and informal settlements.

Project is operated and maintained by Ugunja municipal body on trial run to see the cost effectiveness of the project with reference to O and M of the project.

Low flush toilet pan, P. Thakur, September 2010

Reuse Gardens at School Premises,P. Thakur, September 2010

Reuse Gardens at School Premises, P. Thakur, September 2010

Decentralised Treatment systems, P. Thakur, September 2010

Observations / comments made:

•Well maintained toilet blocks
•Reuse of treated waste water and urine for the garden and farms in school premises
•Urine storage in underground storage tank.
•Need of separate urine storage tank
•Post implementation support is needed for O and M and reuse of nutrient.

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Luanda Kotieno Public Toilet, DEWATS

Report by Moses Wakala, submitted on 08-10-2010
Project Location


Luanda Kotieno Beach town is located off Kisumu-Bondo road adjacent to Lake Victoria as the Ferry crosses to Mbita. It is a busy town with fishing and business as the main economic activities. Many people pass in this town as they cross over to the other side of the lake it being the shorter route.
Many people also come to this town as business men especially dealing in fish and food products apart from household goods.

Sanitation condition before the project This region as a whole lacks adequate sanitation facilities. This is as a result of existence of black cotton soil that causes toilets to collapse due to constant expansion and contraction of the soil. This has made many families and people passing in the region to use the bush and the lakeside as the only sanitation option. Out of ten businesses visited in town, only two were having pit latrines and the rest did not have anything. The business community at the open market doesn’t have anything to use in the surrounding.

Objective and Motivation of Project The objectives of the project were mainly
· Introduce the concept of on-site treatment to ease sanitation problem in town
· Improve sanitation in the town.
· To reduce constant lake pollution by open defecation. The lake is the main source of livelihood in the community which is threatened by this menace.

The main motivation of the project was to increase access to good sanitation and clean water to all, as per the millennium development goal number 7.
Implemented Technology
1. Toilet cubicles for Gents and Ladies with showers and Gents urinal.
2. 50 cubic meters digester.
3. 6 chamber anaerobic up-flow reactor.

Current state The toilet has not been in use since its completion and handing over in June. The management committee has not been available to plan for any meeting to be trained on use and management of the facility. Two planned meetings have not picked up due to absence of management committee to finalize on use of facility.

Way forward In the last visit, we have set next week for a community training for all the stake holders. This will entail training on operation and maintenance for the selected operator and management team.


Photo Documentation



Toilet facility at Luanda Kotieno Beach Town with the old pit latrine collapsing. There is no water connection nearby therefore pour flush will be used as an alternative.



New Toilet Block at Luanda Kotieno Beach Town with pour flush technology

The Digester and Baffle Reactor designed to treat the waste from the public toilet in Luanda Kotieno Beach town.
Fish Business community next to the toilet facility without sanitation
A passenger ferry leaves the town six times in a day

Bill Board of the project just in front of a food cafeteria

Small scale business slowly sprouting up, lack sanitation facilities in town

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Ugunja Market Public Toilet, DEWATS - study tour – ecosan workshop

Objective

To familiarise the Kenyan Stakeholders with the local conditions in order to provide the proper context for the organisational development of “ESF Kenya”.

Sites Visited

•Urine-Diverting Dehydrating Toilets (UDDTs) at the household and school levels

•Decentralized wastewater management plants comprising of biogas digesters

•Bio-Latrine-Centres installed for public places such as markets, bus parks, and boat landings and informal settlements

Site I: Bio latrine Centres at Market Place
Project is operated and maintained by Ugunja municipal body on trial run to see the cost effectiveness of the project with reference to O and M of the project.

On Tuesdays weekly market takes place in Ugunja, P.Thakur, 2010.


Collection counter at toilet block.Photo by P.Thakur, 2010

Washbasin with broken/missing lever (Ugunja market) Photo by P.Thakur, 2010.

Public toilet linked to DEWATS at Ugunja market Photo by P.Thakur, 2010.

Site I: Bio latrine Centres at Market Place

Observations / comments made:

•Toilet block is well maintained
•Lids of biogas settler and baffle reactor are in broken condition.
•The O and M agency is selling water to shopkeepers in the market at the rate of 10 Kenyan shillings for 20 lit which is an additional incentive to O and M agency of the toilet block.
•Charges for users:
ØToilet: 5.0 Kenyan shillings
ØBathroom: 10.0 Kenyan shillings
•Amount collected by O and M agency is 1000 shillings/day
•Community consultation and handover to CBO is pending task for that further support is needed.

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