Mathare area gets water and sanitation facilities
1st July 2009
EABL Foundation has commissioned a water project in Mathare where thousands of people live in informal settlements.
Following the current biting water shortages experienced across the country, residents of Mathare have had to contend with poor sanitation exposing them to serious health hazards and diseases such as Cholera.
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| The commissioned toilet at Mathare (Kosovo) area |
The Kshs 2 million water and ablution block is a model facility constructed by Ecotact through the funding of EABL Foundation. Mathare is one of the first to benefit from a Kshs 32 million Blocks of H2ope launched in February 2009 to construct 20 facilities across Nairobi, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nanyuki, Karatina and Thika where public water and sanitation facilities are not adequate.
Speaking at the commissioning of the project, EABL’s Head of Innovation Rosemary Mueke said, “We recognize that water is a basic need and an important catalyst for both economic and social development of the country. We however cannot de-link water from sanitation especially in the informal settlements”.
“Finding sustainable solutions to the problems of our people underscores our commitment to the communities in which we operate”.
The facilities will be high quality and hygienically sound with all relevant fittings for male and female toilets and showers. Beyond the basic sanitation facilities for the public, the blocks will offer water vending points at each facility with 10,000 litre storage tanks connected to the utility and with UV installation to ensure clean portable water to the residents of the informal settlements.
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| Athi Water Service Board's Chief Manager, Finance, Ms Rose Nyaga, EABL's Head of Innovation, Rosemary Mueke, NEMA's Director General, MDr. Musya Mwinzi and Ecotact's CEO David Kuria soon after commissioning the EABL Foundation sponsored water project in Mathare |
Ecotact CEO David Kuria added, “Our aim is to provide appropriate ecological sanitation systems, in order to reduce water loss, contaminations and thus improve environmental and public health. These ablution blocks are environment friendly, like you have seen and use no water at all for flushing”.
Speaking at the same venue, EABL Foundation Manager Keith Obure revealed that all the various projects of Blocks of H2hope, which is in conjunction with the various municipalities, would be complete and commissioned in the next few months.
A water point (for public drinking points and fire extinguishers), public information points, shoeshine centers, newspaper and magazine vendors, and other viable add-on enterprises are also encompassed in the design. In order to reduce water loss, contaminations and improve environmental and public health the blocks are environment friendly and use no water at all for flushing. |
