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I’m Optimistic

SDGSUPPORTERS, even though I’m worried about the future of the underserved — and I’m sure you are too — I’m also optimistic for what the future will bring… provided we stand up for what we believe in.

Mean-spirited and greedy actions have motivated millions — literally millions — of us to speak out like never before. And the biggest lesson I’m taking from the last 4 weeks of unprecedented team work is that the power you and I have to make a difference is real, and here to stay.

So even though at times the political climate looks bleak, I believe we’re on the cusp of another great wave of reform. And you are a critical part of it.

Sarah-Jane Brownlie, the team at RaHaSolutions

Are You Upset About the Underserved?

SDGSUPPORTERS,

If you’re as upset as I am about the ‘underserved’ — I want to tell you about a game-changing solution: SDGSUPPORTERS.

Here’s how it works: SDGSUPPORTERS is a supplement in leading daily newspapers. It invites readers to nominate communities or schools for water, sanitations and hygiene services. You enable publishing of the supplement by placing your ads in it –– while nominating, readers must mention the ads, without which they (readers) would not see the invite.

This simple idea makes advertising less expensive. It also makes the services more accessible by the underserved. It’s a much-needed improvement over our cumbersome, outdated processes of availing the services. Plus, it’d significantly decrease the number of the underserved — the nominees get the services at a rate of one nominee per week.

Now, I need your help to keep this momentum going. Make advertising in SDGSUPPORTERS a top priority in the coming months.

With this critical support, you will make sure every underserved person gets water, sanitation and hygiene services. Please step up to fuel this fight today.

Thank you for your immediate response,

Sara-Jane Brownlie, the team at RaHaSolutions

KURA RESPONDS POSITIVELY, PUBLIC TOILETS ON KERICHO ROADS

We are happy to inform you that Kenya Urban Roads Authority responded positively, regarding building toilets on roads in Kericho County (see self explanatory twitter conversation above).

TOILETS ON HIGHWAYS MUST BE ON ROAD RESERVES

Public toilets that are poorly located generate a sense of neglect, attracting vandalism, anti-social behaviour and social disorder. And lack of available and appropriate facilities at the right time encourages fouling, and treating diseases associated with open defecation such as typhoid, dysentery or cholera is a significant and costly task.

These issues, if not tackled effectively, can generate a cycle of decline, leading to more entrenched social problems, and seriously impairing quality of place and quality of life for local people.

Others have seen this reality before. HIGHWAY ACT 1980 Part VII Provision of Special Facilities for Highways states that “…112 Provision of picnic sites and public conveniences for users of trunk roads (1) The Minister may provide on land adjoining, or in the vicinity of, a trunk road that is not a special road a picnic site for motorists and others likely to use the road with space for parking vehicles and a means of access to and from a highway. An area of any such land as aforesaid in which there are, or are to be, provided such a picnic site, parking space and means of access as aforesaid is in this Act referred to as a “trunk road picnic area “.

“(2) The Minister may erect buildings and execute works on a trunk road picnic area for the purpose of providing all or any of the following:— (a) parking places for vehicles, (b) a means of access to or from the area from or to a highway, (c) public sanitary conveniences (including lavatories), and…”

“…(5) The Minister may provide public sanitary conveniences (including lavatories) in proper and convenient situations on or under land forming part of a trunk road that is not a special road, or adjoining, or in the vicinity of, such a road and may manage such conveniences…”

KENYA ROADS BOARD, SANI SOLAR TOILETS ON KERICHO’S ROADS NOBLE AND IMPORTANT

Today, we received letter above from Kenya Roads Board (KRB). KRB’s executive director, Eng. Jacob Z. Ruwa, on behalf of the board, acknowledges that the building of solar toilets on the roads in Kericho County is noble and important.

Main reason for building the toilets on road reserves is safety of the public and maintenance staff. This mitigates against a range of actual and perceived safety risks to person and property that may be encountered at public toilets. These include anti-social behaviours such as vandalism, graffitiing, loitering, and drug abuse.

Building the toilets on road reserves is the only means of ensuring that entrances of the toilets face onto the most active space. This alone will reduce the likelihood of crime in set locations. While it is impossible to ‘design out’ crime, careful planning and detailing with crime in mind have been shown to reduce actual crime and unintended behaviours, and to improve public perception of personal safety.