Sanitation challenges in learning institutions: the case of Nakuru municipality, Kenya

While every aspect of human development is vital, perhaps none is as important as the provision and access to improved sustainable sanitation. Whereas, the learning institutions are at the heart of transforming the nation and must sensitize and enrich the minds of the citizens, most schools’ sanitation facilities has been found wanting. Since the introduction of free primary education in Kenya in 2003, school enrolment has risen to about 7.3 million. In 2008, free secondary education was introduced raising significantly enrolments in secondary schools. These efforts may not realize their ultimate goalmeeting the MDGs. School’s sanitation and hygiene have received the least attention in the allocations of monetary resources. Against this background, this research sought to establish and report on the actual status of the schools’ sanitation facilities, hygiene standards and behaviour in the schools within the periurban areas of Nakuru Municipality. Findings would in turn inform existing NGOs such as ROSA which aims at promoting resourceoriented sanitation concepts being an innovative, affordable, adaptable and replicable approach to sustainable sanitation.