New Toilets for Schools in Kilifi, Kenya 2018

In the last 10 years, the Rotary Club of Kilifi has successfully completed several water and sanitation projects in the area, including water connection, water storage, toilet block construction, and health education and sanitary towel distribution. This new project will continue on experience gained from previous projects, delivering comprehensive sanitation to the most needy primary schools in Kilifi County. Schools have been chosen based on a thorough needs assessment of area schools, and in consultation with local health and education specialists and local government. Through a comprehensive needs assessment carried out by Rotary Club of Kilifi members, two schools have been selected for the project, and a specific project plan has been developed for each school based on its individual need.

The first selected school is Vitsapuni Primary school. There are 550 students and currently 12 toilets. Through a recent district grant, we were recently able to build one block of latrines for boys, bringing the boys ratio close to 1:30. The girls ratio is 1 toilet for every 75 girls, so there is dire need for a block of girls toilets. We also propose to build one block of teacher toilets, hand-washing stations for each block of toilets, and we will also greatly improve their water harvesting and storage through the provision of gutters and storage tanks, as this school has no access to piped water.

The other school selected is Dera Tumaini Primary School. Dera Tumaini school has a very poor ratio of toilets to students, with only 3 toilets for 600 students. These toilets are all in very poor condition. At this school, due to the great need, we plan to build 4 blocks of 6 student toilets (24 total student toilets) and a block of 2 teacher toilets. This will reduce the toilet:student ratio to 1:25. The old toilets will be knocked down due to safety concerns once the new ones are constructed. Each block of toilets will include a hand washing station, and the plumbing of the school will be upgraded.

The projects will be completed in partnership with the school staff and the School Management Boards, with permission from the Ministry of Education. A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed with a team from each school. This Memorandum of Understanding covers the rolls of each party, namely that the school team will ensure the safety of supplies while building is going on, the proper use of toilets by students and staff, and the maintenance of toilets once the Rotary Club has handed them over to the school.

Upon completion of the project, both schools will have greatly improved student to toilet ratios, well built and designed blocks of toilets, hand-washing areas regularly supplied with water, and improved knowledge on best sanitation and hygiene practices.

The direct beneficiaries of the project will be the 1150 students affected at the two schools, and the 20 staff at each school. The indirect beneficiaries will be the greater community, which will benefit from the school maintaining clean sanitation facilities, reducing the spread of disease among students and community.

The project was completed in July 2019 within budget with significant funds remaining so a new proposal was submitted to Rotary International to build a further set of latrines for the Kikwanguloni Primary School. This was approved and the build was completed in March 2020.