By Bisola Adeyemo
Eco Toilet has been established in Ondiri Swamp in Kikuyu Sub-County in Kenya, aimed at preventing water pollution and possible diseases caused by unhygienic environment.
Environment and Forestry Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in Kenya, Mr. Mohammed Elmi announced this during the launch of a pre-activity for World Wetlands Day, Kenya news agency reports.
“ I am happy to handover these environmentally friendly Eco toilets for usage not only to Friends of Ondiri but also to our potential visitors who will be visiting the Swamp after its gazettement as a tourist site,” said Elmi.
Speaking also, Mr. David Wakogy the founder and coordinator of Friends of Ondiri Wetland, explained that the ecological toilets will combat sanitation problems in the county.
“Unlike the other normal latrines which tend to contaminate water with human faeces, thereby ,putting people at a high risk of cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, typhoid, polio and intestinal worms by releasing harmful waste to the water table, Eco toilet is a self-contained unit that produces good compost and protects the soil and water from any contamination.
“Due to the presence of introduced bacteria inside the toilet which eats up the harmful waste, the Eco toilets has a natural way of controlling its waste hence no need for sewerage system or septic tanks as human waste released to the water table is uncontaminated,” Wakogy added.
“These competitions are activities created to encourage the young generation to be involved in matters of environmental conservation including wetlands,” Wakogy said.