Nyando: For more than three decades, Eunice Akinyi Ila, 53, lived with her family in Kagola East village, Nyando Sub-county of Kisumu County, under poor sanitation conditions. The family of seven shared a simple mud-walled pit latrine for defecation and a makeshift space for bathing. During the rainy season, the entire village is plunged into misery as the traditional pit toilets collapse due to flooding, contaminating water sources with raw sewage. Residents are therefore forced to depend on polluted water for drinking and domestic use.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation 2025 data shows that 92 percent of families in Nyando Sub-county have access to proper toilets, leaving around eight percent without adequate sanitation facilities. Despite being declared a 100 percent Open Defecation Free (ODF) area, frequent floods have undermined this progress by destroying toilets. The CECM Department of Medical Services, Public Health, and Sanitation reported three deaths due to Cholera after 15 individuals were diagnosed with acute watery diarrhoea in Nyando Sub-county in March 2025.
After years of struggle, Akinyi and 40 other vulnerable families in Kochogo South Sub-location finally accessed proper sanitation with the rollout of the Safi Latrines in 2023. This intervention, implemented by Habitat for Humanity Kenya and partners, led to the construction of 40 flood-resilient toilets, dubbed the Safi Latrine, designed for unstable, flood-prone soils. Akinyi expressed gratitude for the new toilet, which has restored safety and dignity to her family’s life. Her husband, Gabriel Ila Okumu, also appreciated the one-bedroom house they received as part of the program.
Jane Anyango Midi, a 72-year-old widow, faced similar challenges with frequent flooding destroying her home and toilets. She now enjoys peace of mind, knowing her new house and toilet will withstand the floods. The project, targeting 4,000 people across 881 households in six villages within Kochogo South sub-location, aims to cushion the community from the effects of recurring drought and floods.
Samwel Kiprop Kapsali, WASH Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity Kenya, explained that the Safi Latrines are environmentally safe and culturally appropriate, incorporating community input to prevent contamination of water sources. The organisation also trained local artisans, providing them employment opportunities to build the model latrines, which have shown resilience against floods.
Through the Kochogo South CBO Water Project, a solar-powered borehole and six water kiosks have been established, serving households in various villages. Three learning institutions now have safe sanitation and clean water. The introduction of new technology has enabled the community to access fresh water for consumption and farming.
Emma Oginga, Nyando Sub-county Water Officer, praised the program for its sustainability in providing sanitation services. Access to safe water has improved public health, with significantly reduced cases of water-related diseases. At the 12th National Climate Outlook Forum in Nairobi, experts called for climate-resilient interventions, including improved sanitation systems and strengthened community adaptation measures.
