Kakuma – November 19, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
Turkana has inaugurated a steering committee to drive the Epuka Uchafu Afya Nyumbani initiative, a public health programme designed to promote disease-free homes and communities through improved hygiene and proper waste management practices.
The committee—launched during this year’s World Toilet Day celebration at Kuchal Stadium in Kalobeyei—brings together stakeholders from the education, administration and environmental sectors under the leadership of the Department of Health Services.
The Committees’ mandate includes mobilizing resources and residents to participate in monthly community clean-up exercises as a way of promoting cleanliness and hygiene both at household and community level.
In his address, Deputy Governor Dr John Erus urged individuals and institutions to cooperate with the newly formed team by consistently turning up for the clean-ups scheduled for every third Saturday of the month.
“This team will work closely with schools, business communities, local leaders and the general population to ensure a cleaner, disease-free environment. Everyone has a responsibility to support them,” Dr. Erus said.
Highlighting the county’s commitment to strengthening sanitation efforts, Dr Erus announced that the County Government has allocated KSh 10 million towards sanitation activities to support hygiene-related activities across Turkana.
He also affirmed plans to establish a dedicated budget line for Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) to ensure continuity of the gains made so far.
Acting Director for Environmental Health and chief guest Naomi Mutie praised Turkana for demonstrating leadership in improving national sanitation standards.
“This initiative can transform Kenya into one of the cleanest countries in the region. Rwanda has shown that it is achievable, and with commitment, Kenya can surpass that benchmark,” she said.
Mutie noted that nine other counties have already adopted the initiative and inaugurated their steering committees, expressing optimism that more counties will join, eventually turning the movement into a nationwide effort.
County Executive for Health and Sanitation Dr Joseph Epem called for sustained partner support to reinforce the work of the committee, noting its role in reducing the county’s open defecation burden, currently estimated at about 40 percent.
He added that the selection of Turkana to host the national World Toilet Day event reflected national confidence in the county’s progress toward eliminating open defecation.
Other speakers—including Chief Officer for Preventive Health Agnes Mana, Turkana West Sub-County Administrator Christine Nalemsekom, and the Turkana West Sub-County Commissioner’s team—emphasized behaviour change, collaboration and increased financing as essential drivers for achieving universal Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
Prior to the inauguration of the steering committee, the Deputy Governor and the chief guest Naomi Mutie led a clean-up exercise of the Kalobeyei area alongside representatives from World Vision, Amref Health Africa, Bethel, Concern Worldwide, CRS, UNHCR, TCDM, Peace Wind Japan, WHH, Sanivation, Plan, Sato, Swiss contact, Save the Children, Lokado, Kenya Red Cross, UNICEF, ISRAAID, Danish Refugee Council, host and refugee communities and grassroot organizations.
