Kisumu County Public Health and Sanitation Director Fred Oluoch, wearing a white cap, addresses the media during a press briefing at Kotetni Primary School in Kisumu West yesterday. /Photo courtesy/
Kisumu County residents have been urged to advocate for improved sanitation in their communities and educate others on the importance of proper sanitation. They are also encouraged to support policies and practices that prioritize access to clean and safe toilets.
Addressing county health stakeholders and the public during the World Toilet Day celebration at Kotetni Primary School in Kisumu West constituency yesterday, Kisumu County Public Health and Sanitation Director Fred Oluoch emphasized the county government’s commitment to ensuring that every person has access to clean, safe toilets, and to making sanitation accessible for all.
“The Kisumu County government is dedicated to providing an enabling environment for sanitation through the implementation of adequate legislation and policies. We have circulated draft legislation to partners and stakeholders for review, which will operationalize the Environmental Health and Sanitation Act of 2022, with support from Water Sanitation for the Urban Poor,” he said.
Despite ongoing efforts, Oluoch noted that more than 3.6 billion people worldwide still lack access to safely managed sanitation, meaning millions of children, men, and women continue to live without the dignity, health, and safety that toilets provide.
“Globally, 3.5 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation, including 419 million people who practice open defecation, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) 2023 findings,” he said.
He further highlighted that nationally, 40.9% of the population has access to safely managed sanitation services, 25.8% use improved sanitation services, and 26.1% use other improved sanitation facilities, with 2.2% of the population still engaging in open defecation.
Oluoch also pointed out that the lack of basic sanitation can perpetuate cycles of poverty, inequality, and even conflict.
“For the 3.6 billion people around the world who still lack safely managed sanitation, the impact on health, education, economic opportunities, and even social stability is profound. By addressing sanitation, we are not only improving public health, but we are also laying the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous society,” he said.
He emphasized that families without basic sanitation are more likely to experience disease, miss out on education, and struggle to break the cycle of poverty.
“When a community has safe sanitation, it reduces the risk of waterborne diseases, increases school attendance, and improves social stability,” he added. “When children grow up with access to clean toilets, they are healthier and better equipped to succeed.”
Oluoch expressed optimism about Kisumu County’s progress, noting that through partnerships, the county is on the right path toward improving sanitation, with 33.4% access as evidenced by the Kenya Demographic Health Survey of 2022.
“This aligns with the Governor’s manifesto, which aims to increase access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for households with improved latrines from 25% in 2022 to 70% by 2027,” he concluded.
