Email: lakeregionbulletin@gmail.com
Phone: + 254 787 043 173
Tel: + 254 757 265 656

KIWASCO nods to Fresh Life sanitation program in Kisumu slums

Date:

Share post:

For decades, improper human waste disposal has been a challenge to Kisumu slum dwellers.

With data showing 87 per cent water coverage against 18 per cent sewer coverage in Kisumu in 2019, there was need to focus on sanitation.

During the World Toilet Day in November 2020, Fresh Life Toilet launched the first toilet in Nyalenda, Kisumu.

This was in partnership with the Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO).

“We started our operations to complement KIWASCO’s sanitation coverage and services in Kisumu,” said Fresh Life MD Meltus Mugomi during the official launch of the company on Thursday.

We have done a new partnership that will now enable us to go beyond Nyalenda

Fresh Life MD Meltus Mugomi

The Toilets

Fresh Life begun its operations in Nairobi’s Mukuru Slums ten years ago.

In Nairobi, the entity has set up over 2, 600 latrines, serving over 200, 000 people in ten informal settlements.

The toilets are high-quality, low-cost sanitation units.

They have a urine-diverting squat plate which separate solid and liquid waste to make it easier for collection.

To maintain hygiene amenities, have a handwashing station with soap, water and a bin for feminine hygiene products.

The project in Kisumu begun with 20 employees.

Fast forward, after operating for more than a year the organization now has 60 employees.

We are now moving to ensure this service is expanded to other areas help rehabilitate the ecosystem and bring safe sanitation to the residents of Kisumu

Dr. Ganda

Extension

During the event KIWASCO signed an extension of the memorandum for the project by five years.

Speaking during the launch at KIWASCO’s Kasagam waste lagoon, Mugomi said that the company will now be extending its services to other parts of Kisumu.

Fresh Life latrines (photo, Austine Ogalo, LRB)

“We have done a new partnership that will now enable us to go beyond Nyalenda,” he said.

According to the MD the project is currently having 600 latrines that serve a population of about 15,000 residents of Nyalenda every day.

In Kisumu 75 per cent of our population are using a toilet, but only 25 per cent are using improved toilet which prevent infections

Dr. Gregory Ganda

The project is able to produce 50 latrines every month, but the production depends on the demand.

Kisumu Health CEC Dr.Gregory Ganda said that project has since developed new service delivery models to provide hygienic sanitation.

“In Kisumu 75 per cent of our population are using a toilet, but only 25 per cent are using improved toilet which prevent infections,” he said.

He says since the start of the Fresh Life project, unsafe waste management has reduced in the slum.

“We are now moving to ensure this service is expanded to other areas help rehabilitate the ecosystem and bring safe sanitation to the residents of Kisumu,” he furthered.

According to Dr. Ganda more than half of the city’s population lives in slums and the sewerage coverage is very low.

As a result, unsafe waste management has been rampant.

We are targeting over 2000 toilets for the expansion program and the first 500 will be ready by the end of March

Fresh Life MD Meltus Mugomi

New project

With Fresh Life now moving to Manyatta and Obunga slums KIWASCO is now hoping to move up the sanitation coverage.

“We are targeting over 2000 toilets for the expansion program and the first 500 will be ready by the end of March,” echoed Mugomi.

To acquire the facilities individuals, pay a deposit of Sh850, and another Sh850 every month, to cater for the maintenance and collection of the waste.

Fresh Life fabrication yard in Kisumu. (Photo: Austine Ogalo, LRB)

The beneficiaries get starter kits, which include mop buckets, mops, hand washing station, gloves, cleaning brush, tissue, sawdust.

The technology does not require water, but the sawdust in place of water to cover the solid waste.

This helps to absorb water from the solid waste, hence reducing the bad smell, and then controlling houseflies.

Austine Ogalo
Austine Ogalohttp://www.lakeregionbulletin.co.ke
Lake Region Bulletin is your one stop multi-media platform for news and stories from the Lake Region counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay ,Migori, Siaya, Kissi,Nyamira, Vihiga, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Kericho and Bomet email:ogalo@lakeregionbulletin.co.ke austineogalo02@gmail.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

ALTERED: People Daily newspaper did not report that Rigathi Gachagua resigned 

This People Daily front page shared on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that the immediate former Deputy President (DP)...

FAKE: This news alert that Father Charles Kinyua has been summoned by the DCI is fabricated

Tuko and the DCI have termed the graphic fake.  A graphic with Tuko.co.ke branding on X purporting that Father...

ALTERED: This video of Ruto purportedly attending Father Kinyua’s mass is misleading

President William Ruto was not in attendance and does not feature in the original video. A video accompanying an...

KISUMU: 500 benefit from USAID 4TheChild Sh6 million household resilient support

At least 551 households in Kisumu have benefited from USAID 4TheChild's support worth Sh6,859,950. The support include assorted range...