Water, sanitation & energy consultation: Mukuru kwa Reuben segment 3 (Gateway, Wesinya & Diamond)
Where? Reedemed Church
When? 25.10.18
What? Water, sanitation and energy consortium consultation (Muungano alliance, Oxfam, Sanergy, Strathmore University, Nairobi Water Company,
Who? 83 resident representatives of SPA Mukuru kwa Reuben segment 3 (villages of Gateway, Wesinya & Diamond); representatives from the WSE consortium; Muungano facilitators.
About the community consultations:
This note is from the first of three sets of community consultations by the water, sanitation and energy consortium of the SPA.
This first set of consultation meetings are segment-level dreaming sessions, where residents share their views and aspirations with the consortium, and where the consortium works with the community to identify issues and challenges, community priorities, and ideas for potential solutions – all relating to water, sanitation and energy.
After the first consultation meetings, the consortium will develop a draft sectoral plan for the segment – this draft sectoral plan will be derived from the dreams shared in the first set of consultation meetings and tested against the existing reality of Mukuru.
In later sets of meetings, first at segment level, the consortium will seek residents’ feedback on these draft plans, which will then be revised accordingly. And then all 8 of the SPA consortiums will together share the final integrated development plan, for adoption by Mukuru’s residents.
Brief notes on the discussion:
WSE consortium members present
Kellen Muchira Caritas Switzerland Program Manager
Patrick Njoroge AMT Program Manager
Meremiya Hussein Sanergy Programs
Dennis Gichimu Sanergy Programs
Naomy Obunga Sanergy Programs
Mwaura SDI Programs
Trisha Muungano Programs
WSE consortium members absent with apology
Ignatius Maranga Strathmore University
Jack Oduor Umande Trust
James Mucheke NCWSC
Jamlick Mutie KIWASH – USAID
Alex Manyasi Sanergy
Mario Kaingi NCG
Mwaura SDI Kenya
Opening remarks
The meeting came to order at 10:00am with an opening prayer from Pastor, one of the community members. Patrick proceeded by highlighting what the Special Planning Area project entails and the importance of the community participation in the meetings.
Discussions – Sanitation
Dennis: Let us talk about sanitation. We would like to hear everyone’s opinion but before we get there, kindly state your name and area of living. What are some of the sanitation challenges? We will give the solutions later.
Judy – Diamond: The pit latrines we have get flooded when it rains. However, at night there are people sent to drain the toilets using a generator and they end up disposing the waste in the drainage system.
Mary: Pit toilets flood during rainy seasons and there are men who come with generators at night to drain the toilets. When done they dispose the waste in the drainage.
George: We have a big problem with sanitation. Those sent to drain the toilets at night do not care where they dispose the waste. We wake up in the morning to find the waste spilled all over. As long as they have gotten their pay, proper waste disposal is not their concern
Charles – Gateway B: We face many sanitation challenges. Most of those who stay in Gateway do not have toilets. For those who end up putting up toilets at night do not care about the disposal channels. Secondly, the toilets are not built in the proper manner. Where the toilets drains is the same place water pipes pass through. This results in contamination of the water. I am certain most of us do not boil water.
Dennis: According to what he just said, I believe the water pipes should be placed separately form the drainage system. It is the same water you all drink, wash and use to cook. Do you agree?
Community: Yes, it is true.
Washington – Wesinya: We had a toilet where we had a railway but it was demolished. Now people ease themselves in damping sites. Secondly, there are those who damp garbage aimlessly, which brings about diseases.
Angelina – Gateway B: Yes, we had a toilet that was demolished. Right now, individuals help themselves in the pit and there is nothing blocking it.
Jacob - Diamond: We have a problem with pit latrines. When they stay for long, they start leaking into the drainage system where we have water pipes. Secondly, there are times early in the morning pampers are removed from the drainage system, however, at around 11 am the drainage is blocked again by businesses that damp vegetables, maize and other things into the drainage system.
Miriam – Diamond: The toilets drain into the wrong drainage system.
Angela - : When water mixes with sewage the contaminated water results in people getting sick from diarrhea, cholera and vomiting
Akinyi: We do have Fresh Life toilets. However, the time for waste collections are odd. They may come at 2:00 PM when people are still around or at times, they overstay. The toilets get full and the wastes are not disposed on time.
Boniface: Toilets in the plot stink. It becomes uncomfortable to stay in the house especially when one has invited guests.
Evans: The population is too high and we do not have sufficient toilets. The ones available get full in about two to three days. At the same time, our children play in the same areas, come home, and sleep dirty.
Bilha – Wesinya: I would say the major problem is toilet sanitation and damping. Most mothers do not dispose their baby’s pampers in the sacks provided for garbage disposal. Instead, they damp them in the drainage. Women should be on the frontline in promoting a hygienic environment yet our actions are letting us down.
John: We need toilets that operate at night. We struggle in the evening to find safe places children can ease themselves.
Linet – Gateway: I conquer, as mothers we have failed. We are the first people to pollute our environment. We dispose a lot of garbage in the drainage systems. Water pipes pass through this same place.
Wilfred – Diamond: Pit toilets easily overflow because of h high water table. The situation worsens when it rains causing the latrines to overflow. Plot owners take time to drain the latrines causing the premises to stink.
Daniel: It is expensive access the toilet several times a day. We have families that depend on us. The bigger the family the more money one needs to have to enable all family members to access the latrine. It becomes challenging with children, as they need to go several times. Toilets are expensive we need help.
Tom – Wesinya: Pit latrines easily get full during the rainy season. At the same time, for an exhauster to empty one drum it costs Ksh. 500. Therefore becoming more expensive to empty 10-20 drums. It is difficult to have structure owners uniting to raise the money needed to empty the toilets.
Kephas: Mothers face the greatest challenge. When it comes to cleanliness, they are more involved than men are and yet the environment is not conducive for them.
Pastor: Improper drainage systems bring about blocked drainage. This causes the water to deviate into our houses. Our children come home hungry but we cannot access the house. At times, the children have to stay with the neighbors where the environment is dry. Furthermore, spilling of the waste in our compound makes the place filthy. We end up cleaning the waste instead of cooking for the family.
Charles – Gateway: Our plots are congested. I suggest we find space that will be used to set up a toilet that is connected to the sewer. At least it will be affordable for those who need to use it at a cheaper price. Even if it means allocating our people to manage the toilet, we are ready. We cannot blame those who defecate anywhere and yet there are times one may search for a toilet without success. Houses that are set up with a toilet in between need to be visited. There are drainage system underneath that they use to dispose waste into the drainage.
Community member: The major problem is because of high population and unemployment. Our living conditions cannot be compared to a person in Runda. The jobs we get are short term. Today, I have a job, tomorrow I do not. We cannot improve our lives in such conditions. There are places people cannot afford a sack to collect garbage. This is because the little they have is used for food or other needs.
Timothy: Water pipes and sewer pipes should be separated.
Jacob: I second the point. In fact, the plastic water pipes should be changed to metallic water pipes. We need the water pipes placed separately from the sewer pipes.
Nellius - Gateway: In Gateway, there is an area with about forty households yet there is only one toilet. We would like Fresh Life to visit and see how they can do sales and marketing. So that we can have some of the Fresh Life toilets. Some use buckets as toilets and dispose the waste on the compound at night. At the same time, kindly consider the price of availing the facilities. The price should be decreased to make it affordable.
Joyce: Actually, the price of the fresh Life toilet has reduced. It is now affordable. Those who are able to buy it should avail it in the plots. It is a clean toilet; however, we are the ones who misuse it. I have one of the Fresh Life toilets and it has been very helpful.
Dennis – Sanergy: Is there anyone who has a solution to the pipes problem?
Community member: Metallic pipes can be helpful. However, they have a limitation. The pipes accumulate rust over time and most people do not treat the water before consumption.
John: The government should put sewer lines to enable cleanliness in every plot. If that is accomplished, we will settle the issue on sanitation.
Community member: Another solution to pit latrine is for landlords to hire exhausters to drain the toilets. It is better, compared to using the youths who use buckets and spill the waste all over.
Dennis: What is your plan with the disposed waste?
Ben: We suggest having a place where the waste can be treated and processed for biogas or fertilizers. In addition, it will also give the youths jobs.
Discussion - Energy
Mwaura: I would like us to identify the current energy problems and then find the solution to the problem.
Charles: I use firewood for my business, which is cheaper than charcoal. Secondly, I use token at home though it is very expensive. At times, we use paraffin or charcoal for lighting.
Patricia – Diamond: I also use firewood because I cannot afford paraffin or charcoal.
Mwaura: Where do you get the firewood?
Community: We get them from the demolished houses or pick them along the way. Firewood is available in Mukuru. Some are sold and some are picked along the way.
Agnes: I also use firewood for my business because paraffin is expensive.
Mwaura: Some use firewood worth ksh. 100 for a business. What about for a household, will it not be very expensive?
Community member: It depends on the meko used.
Community member: I spend ksh. 150 on charcoal a day.
Community member: I am a businessman and I had been using charcoal worth ksh. 500-600. I did my calculation and realized it is expensive. These days I use gas for my business and I spend ksh. 50 a day. The gas lasts for 2 weeks. To top it all, charcoal is also expensive when properly calculated.
Mwaura: Charcoal worth ksh. 600 is used for a lot of work
Mwelu: Previously, I used paraffin at ksh. 50 a day, but it is now expensive and I cannot afford. These days I use charcoal.
Pius : I use the 13kg gas at home, which lasts for about 3 months. A day it costs about ksh. 80. The gas goes for 3 months cooking all sorts of food. Gas is ten times better than paraffin or charcoal.
Community member: Charcoal, gas and paraffin are all expensive. I am considering going back to using firewood.
Mwaura: What will happen if we all go back to using firewood? How far will we go?
Community member: Firewood is not good for our health and it produces a lot of smoke. It is not advisable for home use. I have been using the 6kg gas and it lasts for about 1-2 months. Furthermore, it does not produce soot making it easy to clean the cooking pots and the children can play in the house without breathing complications. I advise the use of gas.
Mwaura: We are aware of the reasons why the charcoal and paraffin are now expensive. Soon we will not be able to use paraffin at all. We need to adjust with the changes. Gas is easy and quick to use. How can we make it possible for everyone to use gas?
Community member: We can do a merry go round to enable everyone to have gas.
Community member: That is not possible considering we are not all capable. As much as you will buy gas for me today, I might move to another village. No one will keep buying gas for me.
Mwaura: Fertilizer is processed to be gas. What suggestions do you have for the bulk of waste in Mukuru? How can it help you to have gas? We will talk about that after you have done research.
Community member: I have been using gas since 2011. Beneficial school has been using biogas and it has had no negative effects to them. The problem is on transportation. That is what we have not figured out. It is expensive to establish but long lasting in the end. We need to unite to bring biogas to Mukuru.
Mwaura: Let us talk about electricity.
Beatrice- Gateway: I use token electricity. I pay ksh.300 a month.
Community members: Most of us use token.
Community member: Token is cheap. However, cartels are promoting their business selling sambaza, which is cheaper than token. Sambaza ranges from ksh 200 – 500 a month.
Community member: I use token but it is not long lasting. At the beginning, I used to pay ksh. 200 for 21 units, then there were days I only got six units for ksh. 200. I do not understand where the problem is, considering the monthly charges were deducted. Before, I used the 21 units for two months, now I use the six units for a week. That is why I say token is expensive.
Joffrey: I use the energy saver bulb yet token is still expensive.
Community member: Kindly do not deceive people if you are not using token. Token is fair enough and you cannot get more units than the equivalent you paid.
Mwaura: Tariffs are defined according to how much you consume the energy. Gas is cheaper than using electricity to boil water. There is a community solar, which you need to know about. Do your research and be informed on how it works.
Discussion - Water
Patrick: We will discuss about water and it is a big challenge. What are the water challenges?
Community members: -The prices are high.-The water is contaminated.
Community member: The water overstays in the tanks. The tanks are not cleaned.
Patrick: How much would you like to pay for water?
Community members: We would like to pay 50 cents, at most ksh.2.
Community member: We do not have water and the government has closed the water. We need water. Get us water.
Patricia: We want the water we had before. It was sold at ksh.3.
Community member: We face water challenges. At times, we do not get water and a jerrican is sold at ksh. 10.
Community member: I sued water that was stinking of sewage. My children got sick.
Millicent – Gateway: Water should be at plot level and the pipes should be placed separately from the sewage pipes.
Mwaura: For those who boil water, what energy source do you use?
Community members: Some of us use gas or electricity. If not boiled, we put water guard in the water.
Joseph: I use 7 – 10 jerricans of water a day for my business.
Joyce: I use about 8 -10 jerricans of water a day. I have a baby and the clothes need to be washed daily.
Community member: I use two jerricans in a week.Karanja: The pipes should be placed beneath the ground to avoid theft.
Patrick: A lot of money is spent on buying water, treating it, and medication due to diseases and infections. Furthermore, there are electricity bills, food, rent, and sanitation charges. These are all things we should consider when thinking and suggesting the alternatives. Thank you for your participation. We appreciate your opinions. We cannot accomplish this plan without the Mukuru community.
End Meeting
There being no other agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m. with a closing prayer from the Pastor.