Kibera Ablution Project

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    Community Led Ablution Blocks - Project completion report

    Community Led Ablution

    Blocks System

    Kianda Area A

    Sanitation Subcomponent

    Project

    Completion

    Report

    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 African Network For Prevention and Protection of Child Abuse And

    Neglect

    CBO Community Based Organisation

    ITDG-EA Intermediate Technology Development Group- Eastern Africa

    UMMK Ushirika wa Maisha na Maendeleo Kianda

    UNEP 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 towardsworking 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). Theproject is primarily designed to strengthen community capacities in the design, construction andmanagement 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 theNairobi River arising grossly from inadequate sanitation facilities.

    The construction of the pilot ablution blocks was to be undertaken in area A, Kianda village, Kiberadivision; the section of the slum settlement closest to the river so as to act as a pace-setter for the otherlocations 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 upsome 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 inadequateand 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 wellbeing of the residents as well as reducing the pollution of the Nairobi River. The project was started inJanuary 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 activeinvolvement 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 SiteThe physical assessment of the three sites was conducted in January 2003 - the physical dimensionsmeasured 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 metresSite B- 61.4 square metresSite C- 29.7 square metres

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    The access paths are narrow, 2- 2.5 metres wide, and are characterized by irregulartopography and the open drainage channels that run along most pathways. This is ahazardous aspect in terms of accidental falls.

    The drainage channels are poorly constructed and managed incapable of handling all theliquid waste due to the high population, solid waste deposition along the channels anduneven 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 constructionmaterials used are: - timber off cuts, pieces of iron sheets, stones used to hold the roof inplace, wooden poles and poorly constructed concrete slabs.

    There is controlled access to the existing facilities by the landlord by locking them up andproviding 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 flowof 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 minimumspace provision of each of the required facilities.

    Site A and Site B, were too close to each other thus raising concern as to the equaldistribution 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 enablethe expansion of area provided for the ablution blocks.

    Unwillingness of some landlords to have their existing pit latrines and bathroomsdemolished to give way to the construction of the ablution block. They see this as a loss ofinvestment.

    Building the interconnectivity between water supply, construction of the ablution blocksand restoration of the basic infrastructure and drainage of the village to work as areasonable 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 managementand sustenance of the ablution blocks.

    However a bigger site, 80 square metres, sufficient to fit the required facilities and easily accessible, waslater 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 themove 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 wastedisposal, 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 thecommunity, 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 sessionand 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 theirdesignated 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 onproper 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, opinionsand 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 stronglyexpressed 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 incomegeneration proposals such as; shops, rental space, salon/ barbershop and dressmaking andtailoring 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 asexpressed by the community. A design matrix was therefore developed to determine the priority facilitiesto be provided for in the design of the ablution blocks.

    THE DESIGN MATRIX

    PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY DESIGN GROUPS

    REQUIREMENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL

    TOILETS 9

    BATHROOMS 9

    WATER KIOSK 9

    INFORMATION CENTRE 8

    WASHING PLACE 7

    STORE 6

    SECURITY OFFICE 4

    SHOP 4

    SALON/ BARBER

    SHOP

    3

    CARETAKER'S RESIDENT 1

    RENTAL SPACE 1

    MAENDELEO ROOM 1

    CAR WASH 1

    URINE RECYCLINGTANK

    1

    PHOTOCOPYING

    CENTRE

    1

    CHEMIST 1

    BABY CARE 1

    DRESSMAKING &

    TAILORING CENTRE

    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, andthose by ANPPCAN - the information/ resource centre, water provision and the improved drainagechannels, 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 easilyaccessible 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 kiosk-this will ensure equal distribution of the water points in the pilot area, Kianda A. It also ensuresease 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 thespace 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 theUMMK 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 all-

    inclusive management committee in which the structure owners should be a part.

    3.5.1 Materials and labourAll the necessary materials (natural stones, sand, ballast and cement) procured and stored at the UshirikaClinic 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 undertookcommunity based contracting mechanism, where the project was divided into structural elements asfollows:

    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 theconstruction process undertaken in the construction exercise:

    Demolition of the existing structures

    Community members demolishing the existing dilapidated pit latrines to make space for the upgradedablution 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 well-compacted 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 areresolved 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 fourrepresentatives 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 Worksand 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. Community involvement when incorporated in the project design framework for framework is veryeffective in order for the project ownership and proper/responsible management.

    ii. Community contracting and labour based interventions adds value to poverty reduction strategies andneed to be broadened in the next phase

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    iii. Project integration gives more utility and offers coherence in implementation and management i.e. thecase of water kiosk and information centre within the sanitation block

    iv. Need for more involvement of structure owners and tenants in design and implementation of

    community projects

    v. Need to develop a clear community based monitoring programme of all activities and interventions.

    6.0 OTHER PROJECT MILESTONES

    i. The frequent highlighted visits to the project facilitated by UNEP have led to increased featuring of theproject in relation to the ongoing debate on slums upgrading in Nairobi.

    ii. 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 sanitationb. 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

    Nairobid. Community visits to project sites from Riruta, Nairobi and Kipsongo in Kitale.e. Project presentation at the Nairobi Informal Settlement Coordination Committee meetingsf. Model presentation during the 2003 World Habitat Day in Kiambiu slums in Nairobig. Replication of the project products to CBOs in Riruta under Shelter Forum and Mukuru

    slums under ITDG.