Kibera, the largest informal settlement in East Africa, rests five kilometres from Nairobi’s city centre and houses more than a quarter of the capital’s population. Defined by its uncertain land tenure, inferior infrastructure and low incomes, it is no secret that this densely populated area suffers from dangerously low levels of sanitation services. According to an Impact Assessment Report conducted by Jean Africa Consultants (JAC), there is one pit latrine for every 50 to 500 community members living in Kibera. Often times, the location of a pit latrine makes it inaccessible for waste collection and after it overflows with excrement, it is abandoned. This results in the increased use of “flying toilets,” a plastic bag used for defecation that is tossed as far away as possible. In Kibera’s Silanga Village, a survey conducted for the previous assessment report found that more than 50% of respondents admitted to throwing their waste using the “flying toilet” approach. The lack of
KUUM B Biocentre Household air pollution is high due to burning of traditional fuels (kerosene and charcoal) for cooking and lighting having adverse health impacts. Use of these fuels produces high levels of smoke around the home with health-damaging pollutants. These pollutants can lead to a wide range of child and adult diseases like acute and chronic respiratory conditions (e.g. pneumonia), lung cancer, stroke and cataract. Residents in the informal settlement are the ones mostly affected by these conditions. Umande Trust through funding from Wimma Liikuttaa has been able to maximize on the bio gas utilization from the KUUM B bio centre by installing 4, one burner stoves and biogas lamps in the four rental rooms. The biogas burner ensures the tenants have their privacy as they cook their meals and importantly improve the health of women and children. The residents have been able to save on the cost of buying paraffin and paying electricity bills. The
With the untimely death and rampant fire outbreaks at informal settlements in Kenya, Umande Trust resolved to partner with Citadel limited to ensure the aftermath of these calamities is not as heavy upon the afflicted members. Together, the two organizations in partnership with Jubilee Insurance came up with tumaini ya Jamii insurance policy; a product that seeks to compensate the directly affected families as they try to salvage the remains of their life and properties. Umande Trust hosted a one day training workshop at the Nicofeli bio-centre in Kibera of champions/agents selected from all informal settlements covered by Umande Trust in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu and Embu. Mr. Bernard Mwaniki from Citadel took time to educate the champions on the benefits of being members of the insurance policy. The policy seeks to compensate house fires, disability from acciden
I love what you are doing, i would like to be part.
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