In Siaya County, Mama Rose, a widow, has for years used an old, unsafe latrine that risked spreading diseases like cholera and typhoid.
I have taken the step to build her a new, safe, and clean latrine. The work is underway, with the structure now standing, but she will have to wait until it is fully plastered and finished before she can use it.
For Mama Rose, this is not just a toilet – it is a step towards health, dignity, and safety.
The Struggles Faced by Widows Like Rose
While the law is clear, the reality in rural areas is different. Many widows, especially those without stable income, cannot afford to build or repair a toilet. The cost of materials like timber, iron sheets, and cement is high. This forces some to use nearby bushes, which exposes them to shame, snake bites, or even assault – especially at night.
Others, like Mama Rose, are forced to continue using old, unsafe pit latrines that can collapse or leak into water sources. For these women, the challenge is not ignorance, but poverty.
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Why This Matters
By building Mama Rose a new latrine, Am not just preventing diseases – but restoring dignity and hope. Sanitation is a basic human right, and no one should be denied it because of financial hardship.
When this new latrine is finally completed, it will stand as a symbol of care, faith in action, and the belief that good health begins with simple but vital changes. For Mama Rose, it will be a fresh chapter – one where she can live with the dignity and safety every person deserves.
