GWC's Changemakers: EcoTact

In the Mathare slum, every family experiences 2-3 cases of typhoid per year, forcing them to incur medical costs and lost wages, and sometimes the loss of a child or parent.

The main cause is unhealthy water caused by poor sanitation. Few public toilets exist, and those that do are in very poor condition. Within the first of ten blocks of the Mathare slum, only two toilets exist for 60,000 residents. Most people have no choice but to defecate in open areas or plastic bags, which are then tossed into ditches or fields.

The lack of bathing facilities, robs people of their dignity, especially girls and women. Sanitation is currently one of the greatest challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya only 46& of the 34 million Kenyans have access to adequate sanitation.

Goals overview

In Nairobi, EcoTact's short-term goal is the construction of 50 facilities in impoverished areas serving about 40,000 people per day, 20 in schools serving 40,000 students, and 20 in urban markets and bus stations serving 20,000 people daily. EcoTacts's long-term goal is to develop innovative social investments in environmental sanitation and management in Africa and beyond.

Current status

To date, EcoTact has signed contracts with 10 local authorities for the initial 100 toilet malls, engaged 10 corporations in Kenya as sponsors, and engaged a local university to develop a week-long module for capacity development. To earn an income, each franchise will charge users. The add-on enterprises will strengthen local ownership and ensure a long-term maintenance. Based on EcoTact's pilot facility, one toilet malls should have 2,000 users per day.

Project plan

EcoTact is a social enterprise incorporated in Kenya in 2006 with the sole objective to develop innovative social investments in environmental sanitation and management in Africa and beyond that offer immense life-impacts to the general citizens. These include sustainable, convenient, and hygienic water and sanitation investments for bus stops, central business districts, schools and slums in and around Kenya. The creation of such multifaceted facilities will create employment opportunities for youth, conserve diminishing natural resources, and aid in battling growing public health concerns from the lack of clean water access and sanitation, thus influencing a policy shift in local municipal governance water and sanitation services. The program also seeks to transform, restore and revolutionize perceptions towards toilets and create environmental and sanitation awareness.

Expected outcomes

• Serving 2,000 per day in 1 urban area and school
• Creating 41 direct employment oppurtunities
• Total of 4 IKOtoilets
• Improved health, hygiene and sanitation conditions
• Protection of water resources from pollution

The toilet mall and IKOtoilet program is a private/public partnership between EcoTact (private), respective local authorities, and water and sanitation utilities (public). All are geared towards the provision of hygienic public utilities. The facilities have an ecological and green design which uses a waterless urinal, solar power to support the facility, rain harvest to cut down the water bill, and production of biogas from human waste and urine recovery for agricultural use.

The design of the IKOtoilet facilities includes water treatment and purification via UV rays to ensure the availability of safe drinking water to the public. To encourage the public to use the pay-per-use sanitation facilities and change perceptions towards toilets, the facility includes add-ons such as bathing facilities, baby changing rooms, snack shop and a shoe shine centre.