Last Updated on January 24, 2025 by NewsTurkana
Turkana County is intensifying its campaign to eliminate open defecation, targeting 209 villages in the second phase of the Kenya Sanitation Enabling Environment Project (KSSEP). This initiative is spearheaded by the County Department of Health and Sanitation in partnership with Peace Winds Japan and UNICEF Kenya.
Currently, 30 public health and community health assistants from Turkana South and Turkana West sub-counties are undergoing training to implement community-led total sanitation (CLTS) strategies aimed at fostering behavioral changes and promoting hygiene practices.
The KSSEP phase two project aims to certify 75 villages in Turkana South, including Aroro, and 134 villages in Turkana West, such as Lokichoggio, as open defecation-free (ODF) within two years.
During the training launch, County Director for Health and Sanitation Alfred Emanman underscored the significance of adopting proper sanitation practices to prevent diseases caused by open defecation. “We must all embrace hygienic practices to eliminate the risks posed by open defecation,” he urged.
Focus on Sanitation and Waste Management
The County’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) coordinator, Reuben Kibyego, highlighted that the training also includes solid waste management, equipping participants with skills for proper disposal and enhanced understanding of CLTS principles, including monitoring and evaluation tools.
Additionally, Peace Winds Japan WASH Assistant Mohamed Kosar emphasized the role of real-time monitoring to track the project’s progress and measure its impact.
Previous Success and Future Goals
Between 2021 and 2023, the first phase of KSSEP targeted 247 villages in Turkana South and Turkana West, successfully certifying 174 as ODF, achieving 70.4% of its target.
Despite this progress, the 2019 Kenya Census reported that 68.1% of Turkana County residents practiced open defecation. However, as of October 2024, 1,258 villages (55.
