Kenya water sanitation and hygiene

Promoting practices in clean water, sanitation and hygiene

MCC works with several schools in Nairobi's informal settlements ("slums") on WaSH programs (water, sanitation and hygiene). Students treat their water using SODIS (solar disinfection), and are monitoring for good handwashing and toilet practices. Community outreach programs work with the households around the schools in order to reduce water-borne and other infectious diseases.

We drew on lessons from other WaSH programs to help promoters in these communities design more effective programs.

Ongoing monitoring of activities identifies current needs. For instance, the community in Mathare recently has noticed a large decrease in "flying toilets" (bags used for defecation, and then flung out into the street), but an increase in "flying diapers". Residents are using more disposable diapers, which are not properly disposed of.

(Left) Science teacher in Mathare explains to parents what the water tests mean, (right) Example where the water source was contaminated, but after SODIS treatment the water is clean.

Workshops with parents help to identify areas of improvement. One workshop, for instance, provided free water testing for the parents. Some parents were treating water already, which of course was good. We learned, however, that many residents were storing treated water in conditions which do not keep it clean. In many cases, stored water was actually more contaminated than the source water. WaSH promoters therefore shifted their strategy to strongly emphasize the importance of clean water storage techniques, in addition to its treatment.