Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KNCCI) has launched Western Kenya Sanitation Project (WKSP) workshop aimed at catalysing private sector participation and investment in sanitation and menstrual hygiene management in the region.
Powered by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and KNCCI, the workshop is to engage the private sector on how they can channel investment towards Water, Sanitation and Menstrual Hygiene (WASH) to complement and support the important work that USAID is undertaking in this sector.
“It is a great pleasure to address such an important gathering in the magnificent lakeside city of Kisumu. I take this opportunity to thank USAID for considering KNCCI as your private sector partner of choice to engage businesses on the Western Kenya Sanitation Project (WKSP),” said KNCHR president Richard Ngatia.
Additionally, he encouraged the private sector to invest in WASH, by developing new and innovative products to solve common sanitation challenges such as access to clean water, waste disposal and menstrual hygiene management.
“Most importantly, the project will support MSMEs by exploiting local knowledge and skills and building functional capacities for service provision. Technicians, artisans and women groups will be part of the value chains that will manufacture safe sanitation and MHM products,” he said.
“We call upon financial institutions and development partners to support MSMEs through credit and grants, marketing support, training and skill enhancement for market preparedness to plunge into the WASH value chains,” he added
To ensure a healthy nation and productive workforce, Ngatia alluded to creation of millions of jobs in WASH value chains including manufacturing of sanitary products, water treatment, construction of toilets, recycling and distribution of sanitary products.
USAID representative David Rodgers underscored the important role of the private sector as a key partner to invest in sanitation and hygiene markets, and highlighted the need to create an enabling policy environment for such investments.
He called upon all stakeholders to partake in advocacy activities, mindset change and de-stigmatization of MHM.
Dr. Paul Orengo, Chief of Party for USAID Kenya WKSP emphasised on collective responsibility and multi-stakeholder partnerships involving national and county governments, private sector, development actors and local communities in improving the state of sanitation and hygiene.
“We look forward to working closely with USAID Kenya and Kenya Chamber in generating evidence-based research in MHM, creating awareness programmes and mainstream MHM entrepreneurs into county and community projects,” Busia governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma said.
Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o called upon greater collaboration and dialogue between counties and the private sector to improve access to quality and safe sanitation and menstrual hygiene.
USAID WKSP will be supporting the domestication and implementation of the Kenya Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Policy (KESHP) at the county level, including the strengthening of monitoring and coordination mechanisms.
The project will promote inclusion of girls, women and persons with disabilities to be part of critical decision makers and innovators on matters of sanitation and menstrual hygiene management.