By Bisola Adeyemo
Kenya government in collaboration with UNICEF has vowed to eradicate Open Defecation and promote good sanitation in the country by 2025.
The Government assured this on Wednesday, during the launching of Kenya Sanitation Alliance targeting 15 counties with the highest rates of open defecation.
The alliance is funded by the Government of Japan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mutahi Kagwe, spoke on behalf of the Acting Director-General of Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, who said open defecation has caused a lot of unsuitable diseases in the country even death, especially among young children, KNA reports
“If we end this practice, we will save lives and remove a barrier to education and economic opportunity,” said Kagwe.
The CS applauded UNICEF, the Governments of Japan and the US for their support to ensure open defecation in Kenya become a story.
Speaking during the launch, Deputy Head of Mission, the Embassy of Japan, Yasuhisa Kitagawa, said the government of Japan, in collaboration with UNICEF, is working on the improvement of sanitation in Kenya through the Sanitation for Universal Health Coverage project.
“We are determined to continue in our support of this project, which seeks to end open defecation through partnerships with UNICEF and other partners as well as involving both the public and private sectors within Kenya”, said Kitagawa.
In his remarks, USAID Mission Director in Kenya, Mark Andrew Meassick said Kenya is, and continues to be, a WASH priority country for the U.S. Government.
“The US Global Water Strategy and corresponding USAID Development Plan aim for a world, where all people have safe and sustainable access to household sanitation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the affected 15 County Governors have committed to sign the Alliance two days towards World Toilet Day.
