Project at a glance
The saying that the poor pay the highest cost for basic services is evident in Mukuru: one of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi. The cost of water – which is also often contaminated and unsafe – can be as much as 400% – 800% higher than in formal piped systems, amounting to a “poverty penalty” for residents.
The challenge
With more than 100,000 households crammed into an area measuring approximately 690 acres, the majority of Mukuru residents live in one-room temporary structures within courtyard housing clusters known as “plots.” As is the case in such settlements, water infrastructure is woefully inadequate and consists of unreliable and disjointed piping systems referred to as “spaghetti piping.”
Sanitation conditions in Mukuru are just as deplorable, with just under 3,900 pit latrines (approximately one latrine for almost 70 people). This leads to open defecation and indiscriminate disposal of fecal waste, and frequent outbreaks of diseases like cholera. Exposed human waste in surface drains, high water costs, flooding, and unhygienic food preparation contribute to nutrition-related illnesses, with children and women being particularly affected. One study concluded the high stunting rate of children under five years old (up to 41%) can be attributed to digestive tract ailments.
What the project aims to do
Strengthen community-led governance of water and sanitation services: The pilot project was initiated in response to the pressing issues faced by Mukuru residents, including inadequate infrastructure and services. Community consultations held as part of the overarching Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA) process identified water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services as one of the most urgent priorities for the community. Participants also advocated for construction of WASH facilities at the plot level, rather than the existing communal facilities. AMT subsequently collaborated with community members to identify and mobilize needy structure owners willing to build toilets and connect to the sewer system. Community members played a crucial role in sensitizing structure owners and residents about the project’s goals and loan terms.
Explore innovative technical solutions: Building on the community recommendations, preliminary designs for the initial project in Mukuru Kwa Ruben (Mosque Road Pilot) were developed and approved by the County. These included simplified sewer systems and the installation of pre-paid water dispensers
Create a sanitation revolving fund: The immediate benefits associated with the expansion of WASH infrastructure in the pilot phase led to high demand for expanding the project across the entire settlement. To ensure sustainability, it was important to ensure a market-based approach from the start. AMT and FSD-Kenya established a sanitation revolving fund to assist structure owners with toilet construction and connection fees.
The main results from the pilot phase include:
- 94 plot level toilets constructed and/or upgraded and connected to an improved sewer system.
- 10 Pre-paid Water Dispensers installed, serving 1,000 households in the pilot area.
- Approximately 115 structure owners have accessed loans to construct WASH facilities, averaging KES 25,000 each (approximately US$185).
- The basis laid for scaling up collaboration with Nairobi County Water & Sewerage Company to reduce the costs of last-mile connection at the plot level (courtyard units housing approximately 100 households).
Despite these achievements, the scale of need is immense. Only around 15% of the initial target of 700 improved WASH facilities have been constructed. There is need for significant support to scale up the project, which requires constructing an estimated 25 kilometers of lateral and last-mile sewer lines and installing around 500 prepaid water dispensers (PPDs). Supporting household research, sewer designs, and community organization remains critical for successful project implementation.
Project partners:
Nairobi City County
Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company
Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)
International Development Research Center (IDRC)
