Kisumu City’s Manyatta informal settlement is set to benefit from a Sh1.6 billion initiative funded by the German Development Bank (KfW) and the European Union (EU) to improve sanitation.
The project, under the Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (IWRMP) spearheaded by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), aims to enhance access to proper sanitation while improving the quality of water in Lake Victoria.
As part of the initiative, 550 modern toilet blocks will be constructed in Manyatta A.
Additionally, a 15-kilometer extension of the sewerage system will be implemented to curb the release of untreated waste into the lake.
The programme’s coordinator, Arsene Aime Mukubwa, announced that LVBC, an East African Community (EAC) agency, has already received Sh800 million to commence the project.
The remaining Sh800 million is expected to be disbursed next year.
This initiative is part of a larger regional effort to promote sustainable water resource management and ensure Lake Victoria remains a vital lifeline for millions in East Africa.
Speaking during World Toilet Day celebrations at Kotetni Primary School in Kisumu West Sub-County, Mukubwa emphasized the importance of the investment, noting its potential to address sanitation challenges in Manyatta and beyond.
"Open defecation in Kisumu stands at 4.8 percent, contributing significantly to pollution in Lake Victoria. This programme aims to tackle this issue while improving sanitation access," he said.
Mukubwa also highlighted LVBC’s ongoing efforts to forge partnerships that can expand the initiative across the East African region.
Mukubwa noted that urban centers such as Kisumu, Kampala, Mwanza, and Kigali have been key contributors to pollution in Lake Victoria.
The IWRMP seeks to address these challenges by improving sanitation infrastructure in these cities.
Kisumu County Director of Public Health, Fredrick Oluoch, praised the collaboration, aligning it with the county’s target to increase sanitation access to 70% by 2027.
"By 2022, sanitation access in Kisumu stood at 33.1%. This project will significantly accelerate our progress toward the 70% target outlined in Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o’s manifesto," Oluoch stated.
He acknowledged that open defecation remains a concern in some parts of the county but expressed optimism that this partnership would drive the adoption of improved sanitation facilities.
Oluoch assured that the county is committed to providing an enabling environment to sanitation and hygiene players through the provision of adequate legislation and policies.
