KEN/14/009 - Mathare Eco-Sanitation Project

Objective: To provide an eco-friendly sanitation system to address the poor sanitation and hygiene conditions facing marginalized residents of the Mathare slums

Background: Mathare is one of the largest informal settlements in Kenya. It is densely populated with the majority of the people being unemployed, hence experiencing extreme poverty and deplorable sanitary conditions. Poor sanitation is a direct threat to public health and security, especially for women and children. Poor sewer systems, contaminated water, etc. have been identified as major causes of frequent outbreaks of enteric diseases. The sanitation-related diseases have consequently led to high child and maternal mortality rates and extreme poverty in the slums. During the project an eco-friendly facility consisting of toilets and bathing areas will be constructed, water collection and storage tanks will be installed, plus a biodigester for biogas production and a solar system for lighting and water-heating purposes. The project will also involve the training of peer educators as trainers in the areas of improved water management, sanitation and hygiene. The facility will be supplied by solar power. It will also be connected to the local power and lighting company for use during rainy and cloudy seasons. The facility aims to reach an average of around 800 users per day. The biogas produced by the waste will be processed via the biodigester and supplied to local households for a fee (calculated by the Kenya Energy Regulatory Authority). Fifty volunteer educators will train the community on the promotion of good sanitation and hygiene practices. They will carry out door-to-door sensitization including household water treatment options such as solar water pasteurization. A community sanitation committee of five people will take over the established facilities and continue creating awareness of the sanitation needs of the community. They will set an affordable small monthly fee for regular facility users, in addition to a biogas renting fee, to improve the financial sustainability of the project for items such as repairs, cleaning and possible expansion to other locations within the slums. Four or five men and women will be employed as cleaners and general facility attendants. They will be paid from the small user fee to be charged from the facility users.

Use of Funds: The funds will be used for construction materials for building the facility; purchase and installation of the solar system; fixtures and fittings for the toilet and shower facilities; two 20,000 litre tanks for water collection and storage; training materials.

Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries are the approximately 2500 residents of the slum area and those in the urban poor neighbourhood located 15 km north of Nairobi city centre.