78 poor people charged with having no latrines

Seventy-eight people in Elgeyo Marakwet County have been charged with having no latrines in their homes in the past four months.

Records obtained from the office of county public health prosecutor indicated that in November alone, 22 people were charged with open defecation.

"This is unfortunate because we still have rampant cases of open defecation across the county which a health hazard," said Mathew Kore, the local county public health prosecutor.

Marakwet East sub-county has the least latrine coverage, with 33 per cent of the population  reported to going for open defecation followed by Marakwet West with 32 per cent. Keiyo North has an impressive 92 per cent latrine coverage while Keiyo South has 89 per cent.

Sharing toilet

Mr Kore noted the situation was compounded by the fact that members of extended family were sharing one latrine, prompting others to defecate in the open because the toilet might be far from their homes.

"What is worrying is the fact that those who have been taken to court are elderly members of the society who are very impoverished and usually fail to raise the imposed fines which range between Sh7,000 and Sh12,000," he said.

It is against this backdrop that the public health prosecutor is now calling upon the county government to set aside funds to enhance health education and promote the use of latrines in the county in a bid to improve general sanitation.

Public awareness

"It is only through public awareness campaigns and education that these cases would be reduced and also go a long way in helping poor residents construct latrines," said Kore.

However, the county public health officer Robisha Bulimo said they have stepped up campaigns to ensure there is 100 per cent latrine coverage in the county.

"We have challenges in semi-arid and arid areas of Kerio Valley were the region is rocky and residents often complain of rocks when they attempt to construct pit latrines," said the health officer.

Recently, the local county assembly passed a Bill that would see those found defecating in the open fined Sh2,000 and those urinating openly will fork out Sh1,000. Those smoking in undesignated areas will part with Sh2,000.

But Bulimo said these fines are aimed at deterring individuals from the practices thus improving sanitation.