Ecosan Kenya Network: 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.