In Intinyika village of Kajiado district, the Maasai community has declared total war on a dirty environment, characterized by indiscriminate disposal of inkik – the Maasai word for faecal matter.

It is also here that the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is being implemented under the MFS II WASH project where the community has come to the realization that improper disposal of inkik leads to water contamination and an increase in sanitation related diseases such as diarrhoea.

In the knowledge that the power to change that situation and improve their health lays squarely and inherently in their hands, the Maasai communities in Kajiado district are now on their own volition constructing toilets out of mud and some in the shape of traditional manyattas as a first step towards addressing hygiene and sanitation within the homestead and curbing the spread of diarrhoeal diseases. Some of these toilets have grass thatched roofs which are subsequently replaced with iron sheets to shield them from the elements particularly during the rainy season.

“This project has led to a great reduction of diarrhoeal diseases in the community and mothers have enough time to look after their families as they no longer frequent hospitals.” Explains Josephine, the Community Natural Leader in Sanitation (CNLS) as she leads a team from the Kenya WASH Alliance on a tour across the village.

In Kajiado, toilet access and utilisation of toilets is at a meagre 20% compared to the national average of 52%. So far, the project has led community education on sanitation in 60 out of the 309 villages in Kajiado district, where construction and use of toilets and hand washing facilities is greatly evident.

“Slowly but surely, we shall have covered the entire district.” says Wycliffe Manyulu, the Project Officer, Kajiado MFS II WASH Project.

Blog by AMREF