The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Sanitation has today commissioned sanitation blocks worth Sh500 million in the sprawling Kibra slums within Kibra Constituency in Nairobi.
Kibra is one of the largest slums in the Sub-Saharan Africa with poor sanitation including lack of toilets.
The unveiling of the sanitation blocks coincided with the global marking of World Toilet Day.
Speaking in Kibra during the commissioning ceremony, stakeholders in the water sector from the Kenyan and French governments, pointed out that sanitation in informal settlements is crucial, to break the outdated culture of flying toilets.
Samwel Otieno, an officer at the Ministry of Water, said, “I urge Kenyans, whenever you have such a facility, use it with dignity; sometimes we build toilets but people don’t use them because of the culture.” He noted.
The project which is being implemented by Athi Water Works Development Agency, and funded by the French Development Agency, has seen the construction of Bio Centres in Kibera, Kawangware, Mukuru, Korogocho, Huruma, and Mathare settlements.
On his part, Athi Water Works Agency Managing Director Engineer Thuita Mwangi said the provision of the facilities is a game changer.
“The impact and benefit gotten is beyond measure, we will be calling for more collaboration.” He said.
French Ambassador to Kenya His Excellency Arnaud Suquet applauded the project noting that it would be beneficial to the community.
“It is an interesting infrastructure for the community, it belongs to the community and you will make the best use of it.” The ambassador said.
The initiative comes as the world marks Toilet Day, today, a day set aside to inspire action on the global sanitation crisis.
