Country lost Sh36.5 billion to poor sanitation

Sanitation in Kenya is worse than it was before county governments took over the health sector.

According to National Public Health Deputy Director Dr John Kariuki the country was doing well on sanitation before devolution.

"In this day and age, about six million Kenyans still defecate in the open. That is why we have cholera outbreak in Migori and Bomet counties. We should not be talking about cholera in this technological era we are in," Kariuki said.

A study conducted by World Bank and Ministry of Health on sanitation revealed that in 2012, the country lost Sh27billion, while results released early this year show a lose of Sh36.5billion.

Dr Kariuki said this happened because counties had not prioritised sanitation and hence the country continues to lose 13,000 people especially children to needless deaths. Data released recently by Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation that monitors MDGs indicates that Kenya is not on track in its sanitation targets.