A new video showcases the power of collaboration between government, civil society organisations, development partners and local communities in delivering transformative and inclusive water and sanitation services to marginalised residents of the Mukuru informal settlements in Nairobi.
It highlights the successful expansion of the water and sanitation project in Mukuru Viwandani – through innovative approaches such as simplified sewer systems (SSS), prepaid water dispensers (PPDs) and a community-delegated management model.
First identified during the Mukuru Special Planning Area process as being suitable for informal urban settings, these solutions were piloted in Mukuru Kwa Reuben, and later scaled to seven villages with proven effectiveness.
With financial support from ACRC, Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT) partnered with the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG), Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) and local communities to extend SSS and PPDs to Mukuru Viwandani, where residents had waited five years for improved services.
Lessons learned from implementation in Kwa Reuben significantly strengthened the roll-out in Viwandani. This expansion has since enabled access to water and sewerage services for approximately 8,000 households in the settlement.
Watch the video here:
With many thanks to the following contributors for their invaluable support and collaboration to the water and sanitation project:
- The Mukuru community, for their active participation and support throughout the project
- The AMT team, for their dedication and commitment
- The NCWSC technical and social teams, for overseeing and supporting the implementation
- NCCG, for providing overall coordination and leadership
- The Know Your City TV (KYCTV) team, led by SDI Kenya, for filming and producing the video
Video credits
Produced by: Know Your City TV Kenya and SDI Kenya
Videographers: Jarvis Kasndi and Rholinx Otieno
Additional footage: Peris Saleh
Editor: Jarvis Kasndi
Scriptwriting and voiceover: Sarah Ouma
Header photo credit: Know Your City TV Kenya
Note: This article presents the views of the author featured and does not necessarily represent the views of the African Cities Research Consortium as a whole.
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