Project Completion Report

Community Led Ablution Blocks System

Kianda Area A Sanitation Subcomponent
Nairobi River Basin Project

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CONTENTS
1.0. INTRODUCTION 2.0. AIM OF THE PROJECT 3.0. PROJECT ACTIVITIES 4.0. POST COMPLETION ACTIVITIES 5.0 LESSONS LEARNT 6.0 OTHER PROJECT MILESTONES ANNEXES: ANNEX 1: COPIES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS ANNEX 2: BUDGET SUMMARY

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ABBREVIATIONS ANPPCAN CBO ITDG-EA UMMK UNEP African Network For Prevention and Protection of Child Abuse And Neglect Community Based Organisation Intermediate Technology Development Group- Eastern Africa Ushirika wa Maisha na Maendeleo Kianda United Nations Environmental Programme

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1.0 INTRODUCTION The Community Led Ablution Blocks System is a part of the Nairobi River Basin initiative geared towards working in partnership with community groups, Nairobi City Council and other agencies in design, construction and management of sanitation utility blocks (lavatories, showers and laundry facilities). The project is primarily designed to strengthen community capacities in the design, construction and management of sanitation technologies in order to improve community and environmental health and as a part of the interventions aimed at reversing the acute problems associated with the pollution of the Nairobi River arising grossly from inadequate sanitation facilities. The construction of the pilot ablution blocks was to be undertaken in area A, Kianda village, Kibera division; the section of the slum settlement closest to the river so as to act as a pace-setter for the other locations as part of the project phase II. The site identification was undertaken by the members of UMMK in consultation with the Kianda A residents with key considerations on availability of space and the structure owners willingness to give up some space. The proposed sites for the construction of the sanitary facilities, Site A, Site B and Site C, are all sites currently taken up by landlord owned pit latrines and bathrooms which are grossly inadequate and in appalling bad condition. 2.0 AIM OF THE PROJECT The projects main aim is to provide proper sanitation amenities/ practices to cater for the health and well being of the residents as well as reducing the pollution of the Nairobi River. The project was started in January 2003 and was scheduled for completion by end of 2003. Upon completion, the project was expected to fulfil the following goals: Provision of adequate sanitation facilities. Reduction in pollution of the Nairobi River Provision of sufficient and clean drinking water to the community. Equipping the community members with practical management skills through active involvement in management of the project. Reduction of prevalence of diseases in the area. Improve the general hygiene of the area. The main project outputs included: Community participatory planning, design and layout sessions Community session on appropriate sanitation technologies Construction of 3 sanitation facilities Associated sewerage connection of the 3 blocks 3.0 PROJECT ACTIVITIES 3.1 SITE ASSESSMENT 3.1.1 Physical Aspects of the Site The physical assessment of the three sites was conducted in January 2003 - the physical dimensions measured and the following physical attributes were noted:The sites are all considerably small with the areas of the sites being; Site A- 49.2 square metres Site B- 61.4 square metres Site C- 29.7 square metres

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The access paths are narrow, 2- 2.5 metres wide, and are characterized by irregular topography and the open drainage channels that run along most pathways. This is a hazardous aspect in terms of accidental falls. The drainage channels are poorly constructed and managed incapable of handling all the liquid waste due to the high population, solid waste deposition along the channels and uneven topography. The existing facilities are temporary in nature with no identifiable orientation and are poorly constructed with most of the latrines filled up or nearly filled up. The main construction materials used are: - timber off cuts, pieces of iron sheets, stones used to hold the roof in place, wooden poles and poorly constructed concrete slabs. There is controlled access to the existing facilities by the landlord by locking them up and providing only their tenants with the keys to the facilities. 3.1.2 Main constraints The main issues that presented difficulty in their resolution causing a considerable delay in the flow of activities as programmed were;The size and proximity of the sites. All the three selected sites are considerably small in relation to the sum of the minimum space provision of each of the required facilities. Site A and Site B, were too close to each other thus raising concern as to the equal distribution of the upgraded ablution facilities. Suggested remedy; The community representatives were to discuss and negotiate with the landlords and structure owners neighbouring the proposed sites for some space to enable the expansion of area provided for the ablution blocks. Unwillingness of some landlords to have their existing pit latrines and bathrooms demolished to give way to the construction of the ablution block. They see this as a loss of investment. Building the interconnectivity between water supply, construction of the ablution blocks and restoration of the basic infrastructure and drainage of the village to work as a reasonable whole for a common goal presented some problems in that the water supply and an efficiently working drainage system have to be in place for efficient management and sustenance of the ablution blocks. However a bigger site, 80 square metres, sufficient to fit the required facilities and easily accessible, was later identified as a replacement to the earlier identified Site A. 3.2 COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP The design workshop held on 5th February 2003, attended by 41 community members and I.T.D.G. officials had 2 major activities; 1. Preliminary training on sanitation and cleanliness conducted. 2. Design session whereby all the community members present were involved in drawing layouts of their desired space provisions in the pilot ablution blocks. 3.2.1 Training session During the training, it was clearly discernible that the community's main areas of concern as regards the move to attaining a cleaner Kianda were; Upgrading of the sanitary facilities. Improving the state of the drainage channels.

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Sufficient and reliable water supply. The community expressed their need for a change from their most common methods of excreta waste disposal, the pit latrines and the flying toilets, to a cleaner, sustainable method -'the flushing toilet.' The ' flying toilet' is one of the major sources of wastes that end up in the river. According to the community, the main reasons for use of this method are; Some people lack access to the existing facilities. The existing facilities are very unclean. High persons/ facility ratio with very few facilities beings shared among many residents. The facility usage fee is sometimes unaffordable. The question of maintenance of the facilities once constructed was also raised during the training session and the community, for further discussion at a later date, made the following proposals. Demarcating specific facilities for use by specific household clusters and making it the responsibility of the cluster members to come up with working strategies to keep their designated part of the facility clean. Adopting the, "if you find the facility dirty, clean it up" attitude. Overseeing the cleanliness and control of use by Kianda. Committee members should therefore come up with working and sustainable strategies to ensure this. The adult community members should take up the responsibility of teaching the children on proper use of the ablution facilities. Having volunteer(s) take charge of the cleanliness of the facility. 3.2.2 Community design session The community members present at the workshop were given a chance to express their needs, opinions and expectations with regard to the project graphically, and the following issues clearly emerged:

Community members participating in drawing the ablution blocks layouts and a graphic presentation of the community's needs by a community member. There is great need for adequate, cleaner toilets and bathrooms. Need for sufficient, clean water supply. Clear demarcation of the spaces in line with gender and age. They therefore proposed space provision for; - Adult male - Children - Adult female - Special cases- disabled Security of use and the issue of controlled use of the facilities on completion were strongly expressed through such proposals as; security office and caretakers resident. Information dissemination was considered key to the satisfaction of their needs and therefore an information office/ centre was one of their most required space provisions.

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The need for economic empowerment of the community was expressed through income generation proposals such as; shops, rental space, salon/ barbershop and dressmaking and tailoring training centre. The community also expressed the need for a landmark facility deviating from the 'standard toilet ' form. The suggested facility names included; - Sanitation centre - Information centre -Multi-purpose centre - New Technology centre - Family care unit 3.3 DESIGN PRODUCTION The limited size of the available sites was the main constraint in designing for all the required spaces as expressed by the community. A design matrix was therefore developed to determine the priority facilities to be provided for in the design of the ablution blocks.

THE DESIGN MATRIX

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY DESIGN GROUPS
REQUIREMENTS TOILETS BATHROOMS WATER KIOSK INFORMATION CENTRE WASHING PLACE STORE SECURITY OFFICE SHOP SALON/ BARBER SHOP CARETAKER'S RESIDENT RENTAL SPACE MAENDELEO ROOM CAR WASH URINE RECYCLING TANK PHOTOCOPYING CENTRE CHEMIST BABY CARE DRESSMAKING & TAILORING CENTRE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL 9 9 9 8 7 6 4 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

From the above matrix, the design provided for the following priority facilities; 1. Toilets. 5. Washing place. 2. Bathrooms. 6. Store. 3. Water kiosk. 7. Security office. 4. Information office.

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3.4 CONSENSUS WORKSHOP In a workshop held between UMMK members, a sample of Kianda A residents, ANPPCAN and ITDG-EA, on 4th March 2003, it was agreed that the facilities to be put up by ITDG-EA - the ablution blocks, and those by ANPPCAN - the information/ resource centre, water provision and the improved drainage channels, should be integrated to work as a reasonable whole. The following was thus plausible to all present; The information/resource centre to be included in the design of block A, for it is easily accessible and would add to the utility of the facility. Each of the three ablution blocks should take a water tank and provide space for a water kioskthis will ensure equal distribution of the water points in the pilot area, Kianda A. It also ensures ease of use of the facilities. The improved drainage channels should be linked to the ablution blocks to facilitate the cleanliness of the ablution blocks. 3.5 CONSTRUCTION WORK This stage has seen considerable delay resulting from the structure owners' unwillingness to give up the space for construction of the blocks. This mainly was as a result of the following identified reasons; Fear of loss of investment - the uncertainty on their (structure owners) stake in the new ablution blocks as regards management of the blocks. Inadequate information dissemination to all the structure owners of the identified sites by the UMMK officials on all the relevant details regarding the project. However, the issue of management was resolved, and it was agreed that each block should have an allinclusive management committee in which the structure owners should be a part. 3.5.1 Materials and labour All the necessary materials (natural stones, sand, ballast and cement) procured and stored at the Ushirika Clinic compound. The construction team consisted of an architect, a project officer and a foreman from ITDG-EA, 5 community artisans and 10 casual workers - all residents of Kianda, Kibera. The project team undertook community based contracting mechanism, where the project was divided into structural elements as follows: Site clearance Excavation Foundation Walling Roofing Finishes (painting and fixtures) Landscaping All the components were contracted to the community artisans with constant supervision from ITDG staff.

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Building materials for construction of the ablution blocks at the Ushirika Clinic compound. 3.5.2 Construction work progress Construction of the ablution blocks on all sites has been completed. Below are the stages of the construction process undertaken in the construction exercise: Demolition of the existing structures

Community members demolishing the existing dilapidated pit latrines to make space for the upgraded ablution blocks. Filling of the pit with soil provided by UMMK

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The aftermath of the demolition exercise. The pits had to be filled immediately to avert accidents. Excavation for foundation; - Setback - one of the pits burst on a section that was not wellcompacted necessitating exhaustion of the waste.

The community construction team at work, digging trenches for the strip foundation Exhaustion of the waste Construction of the strip foundation. Filling with hardcore

Construction of the floor slab.

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Above: Laying of the floor slab- also shows the neighbourhood setting of the new block.

Construction of the walls.

Above: Construction of the external walls to the roof level, internal walls built to the specified height

The construction work on the other two sites is set to start as soon as the relevant management issues are resolved between the UMMK and the structure owners giving up the site as facilitated by ITDG-EA. 4.0 POST COMPLETION ACTIVITIES After completion of the project work, the community organisation in close collaboration with the structure owners have constituted the project management committees. The committees constitute of four representatives of the CBOs and three representatives of the structure owners. The project was officially commissioned on 9th October 2003 by the Honourable Minster of Public Works and Housing (Kenya), in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Director, Regional Office of Africa and Arab States UNEP among other dignitaries. 5.0 LESSONS LEARNT i. ii. Community involvement when incorporated in the project design framework for framework is very effective in order for the project ownership and proper/responsible management. Community contracting and labour based interventions adds value to poverty reduction strategies and need to be broadened in the next phase

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iii. iv. v.

Project integration gives more utility and offers coherence in implementation and management i.e. the case of water kiosk and information centre within the sanitation block Need for more involvement of structure owners and tenants in design and implementation of community projects Need to develop a clear community based monitoring programme of all activities and interventions.

6.0 OTHER PROJECT MILESTONES i. ii. The frequent highlighted visits to the project facilitated by UNEP have led to increased featuring of the project in relation to the ongoing debate on slums upgrading in Nairobi. Information sharing among partner agencies and foreign linkages has offered the project the necessary critique. a. ITDG-EA presented the project progress in Lubeck Germany during the Second International conference on ecological sanitation b. A key knowledge product has been a BBC documentary on the project sharing the experiences and challenges of bringing water to the informal settlements. (www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/water) c. Model presentation on the Nairobi River Basin Symposium organised by UNEP in Nairobi d. Community visits to project sites from Riruta, Nairobi and Kipsongo in Kitale. e. Project presentation at the Nairobi Informal Settlement Coordination Committee meetings f. Model presentation during the 2003 World Habitat Day in Kiambiu slums in Nairobi g. Replication of the project products to CBOs in Riruta under Shelter Forum and Mukuru slums under ITDG.

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