Overview
-
Population: 84,304 people according to the 2019 population census. - Water access: 42 percent of the population accessing water from improved sources.
- Latrine access: Declared open defecation in April 2018.
- County water service providers: Siaya-Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBOWASCO).
- Other key partners: County ministries of Environment, Health and Water, Lake Victoria Water Works Development Agency, Water Resources Authority, water resource users associations (WRUAs) and water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) stakeholders actors.
The water and sanitation challenge
The county’s main water service provider SIBOWASCO experienced different challenges that ranged from strained governance and management systems, dilapidated infrastructure, unethical behaviors such as corruption. haphazard staff recruitment, low revenue base and low revenue collection efficiency and non-compliance with the stipulated service delivery regulations such as registration and periodic water quality testing. Concerted effort by KIWASH, county government and other partners conducted intervention to enable communities access basic and improved latrines.
USAID KIWASH’s interventions
Supporting access to clean water
KIWASH supported five county and community water projects (Akala, Osieko Nambo, Sirembe and Sigomre community water projects and Uyoma West Water and Sanitation Company) through infrastructure development at a total cost of USD 491,256. Besides, to address challenges facing community water projects. KIWASH supported capacity development and training of 35 WASH enterprises on water management.
Promoting access to basic and improved sanitation and hygiene
In 2017, KIWASH together with sub-county and county public health officers (PHOs), community health volunteers (CHVs), the local administration, triggered 150 villages in Alego, Bondo, Gem, Rarieda and Ugenya sub-counties. KIWASH trained 79 CHVs on delivering WASH messages through household visits and community forums. On verification as an ODF county, KIWASH mapped out 20 community groups to engage in sanitation entrepreneurship and trained 22 artisans, 42 CHVs and 13 PHOs on the improved latrine technologies.
Promoting environmental sustainability
KIWASH implemented environment conservation activities in Kawaya, Kisama, Siyonga and Wuoroya water resource users association (WRUAs) in collaboration with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Water Resource Authority (WRA), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the county government departments of environment, and water. These included spring protection and water source protecting from surface run-off, animal waste, farming and domestic activities.
Results
- 37,500 people accessing basic and improved water courtesy of USAID’s assistance.
- 11,770 people accessing basic sanitation.
- 186 villages declared as open defecation free in three sub-counties (Alego, Bondo, Gem, Rarieda and Ugenya).
- 8 springs (Mbeji, Kalawrence, Kamukola, Kodek, Kokoth, Kongaroma, Ojino and Silula) protected to improve water access.
- 2 tree nurseries established at Kawaya and KisamaWRUAs.
Success stories
The county in numbers
