KALOKOL, 13th July 2026(Public Communication and Media Relations)
Nakingol in Kalimapus Village Unit, Kalokol Ward, has been certified Open Defecation Free (ODF), becoming the 54th village in Turkana Central to attain the status amid Turkanas’ efforts to reduce one of Kenya’s highest open defecation burdens.
The certification comes as Turkana works to meet ODF targets, with notable progress in all the eleven sub counties.
A multi-sectoral team comprising Turkana Central Sub-County WASH officers, Kalokol Ward Administrator James Loseny, and representatives of Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) certified the village after a joint assessment of latrine facilities and usage.
“As a team, we confirm that 7 out of 54 households randomly assessed had proper latrines, handwashing facilities and soap. The transect walk also found no human feces, meeting CLTS standards. The village is therefore certified Open Defecation Free,” said Peter Mitunda of the County WASH office.
Mitunda said Nakingol was triggered in March 2026 under the Community-Led Total Sanitation approach and began the journey with support from WHH, the local administration and the area Community Health Promoter.
Loseny described the milestone as critical to disease prevention in an area historically prone to outbreaks.
“Kalokol has suffered major outbreaks linked to poor sanitation. Since residents started working with WHH and public health teams, more villages are becoming ODF and cholera cases have disappeared,” he said.
He urged neighboring villages to emulate Nakingol residents, who built latrines using makeshift tools and local materials despite the rocky terrain.
For resident Pauke Esinyen, the change is personal.
“Before, we endured the foul smell from open defecation. The triggering in March opened our eyes. Today, myself and my five children use the toilet at all times. This is a big plus to our dignity,” she said.
Nakingol is among 143 villages in Turkana Central targeted under WHH’s SCORE II program, led by UNICEF and funded by KOICA. With this certification, 89 villages remain to be covered before June 2027.
According to Mitunda, efforts by partners like WHH are not only improving health in Turkana, but also contributing to Kenya’s compliance with national sanitation goals.
