Lokichar – 11th November 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
In the scorching sun, the homesteads of Lomokamar village in Turkana South Sub-county share a healthy commonality: each has a clean compound, a latrine, and, in some cases, a bathroom.
Etot Etedong, a father of three from Lomokamar Village, recalls the days his family had to relieve themselves in a nearby riverbed, commonly known as a “laga.” Worse still, during the rainy season, this riverbed was also their source of water, and too often, they suffered from diarrheal diseases.
Today, Etedong proudly points to a latrine a few meters from his house. “Since we built the latrine, flies have decreased, and so have cases of diarrhoea, especially among the young children,” he says.
The sanitation transformation in Lomokamar Village can be attributed to the Kenya Sanitation Enabling Environment Project I (KSEEP), funded by USAID through UNICEF Kenya and implemented by Peace Winds Japan Kenya.
The project, implemented between 2021 and 2023, targeted 247 villages in Turkana West and Turkana South Sub-counties. Over the five years, the project declared 174 villages as open defecation free (ODF), achieving 70.4% of its target, equivalent to 13% of the total certified villages across the county.
According to the 2019 Kenya Census report, Turkana County’s open defecation rate stood at 68.1%. As of October 2024, 1,258 villages—55.8% of the county—are certified as ODF. The county health department aims to certify the remaining 996 villages by 2030.
In 2018-2019, diarrheal cases accounted for 11.4% of outpatient attendance. This has since declined to 3.6% by 2023-2024 as sanitation efforts intensified, a change that public health officers say underscores the vital role of sanitation facilities in improving health.
“We’ve seen a remarkable change,” says Michael Mwangangi, the in-charge at Lochwaa Health Facility. “Since the beginning of the year, the number of cases has halved, thanks to increased latrine use and a growing commitment to better hygiene practices.”
According to the facility’s Top 10 Morbidity Statistics chart, 245 children under five were treated for diarrhoea between January and August 2023, compared to 168 cases over the same period in 2024.
The commitment extends beyond individuals to local leaders, who play a vital role in driving Turkana’s sanitation goals. Chief Charles Ekaran, who has served the Lochwaa location for 14 years, has seen firsthand the improvement in children’s health.
“In the past, young children were frequently sick with diarrhoea. With better hygiene practices, I see healthier children,” he says.
Paul Loyokon, the administrator of Lomuanyenkupurat village, emphasizes the importance of sustaining these changes.
“We cannot go back to open defecation,” he says. “Every family must continue to use latrines and practice handwashing.”
Starting in November 2024 and continuing until April 2026, KSEEP II will target 267 villages with Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) activities, which will significantly increase the number of ODF villages in Turkana West and Turkana South Sub-counties.
