How a Remote Kenyan Village Built Its Way to Better Health
Kalokol, 15 July 2026
Nakingol has become the 54th village in Turkana Central to eliminate open defecation, using makeshift tools in rocky terrain to successfully eradicate local cholera outbreaks.
A Critical Milestone in Kenya’s Second-Largest County
Turkana County, the north-westernmost county in Kenya, is the country’s second-largest county, spanning approximately 77,000 square kilometres [1]. Despite its scenic landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the region has historically grappled with one of Kenya’s most severe open defecation burdens [1][2]. The official certification of Nakingol on Monday, 13 July 2026, as an Open Defecation Free (ODF) zone represents a vital milestone, making it the 54th village in Turkana Central to achieve this status [1][2].
Protecting Host and Refugee Communities
The sanitation drive in Turkana Central carries profound public health implications for both the local host communities and nearby refugee populations. In areas with high population movements, such as those near the Kakuma refugee camp and the Kalobeyei integrated settlement, poor hygiene standards represent a continuous epidemiological threat, as waterborne diseases like cholera do not respect administrative boundaries [GPT]. According to Kalokol Ward Administrator James Loseny, Kalokol has historically suffered from major disease outbreaks linked directly to poor sanitation [1]. However, since community-led public health initiatives were implemented, cholera cases have effectively disappeared, highlighting the direct link between improved sanitation and community health [1].
Behavioural Change and the CLTS Methodology
The transformation of Nakingol began in March 2026 when the community was “triggered” under the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach [1]. This methodology focuses on shifting community behaviour and fostering collective ownership rather than merely constructing external infrastructure [GPT]. The village embarked on this process with the active support of the non-governmental organisation Welthungerhilfe (WHH), local administrative officers, and the area’s Community Health Promoter [1]. To verify the village’s progress, a multi-sectoral assessment team consisting of Turkana Central Sub-County WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) officers, Ward Administrator James Loseny, and representatives from WHH conducted a rigorous on-site inspection [1].
Rigorous Standards and Verified Progress
During the evaluation, the assessment team randomly inspected households to measure sanitation compliance. Out of the 54 households randomly assessed, the team verified that 7 households—representing 12.963 per cent of the sample—possessed proper latrines, handwashing facilities, and soap [1]. Furthermore, a physical transect walk across the village confirmed the complete absence of human faeces, thereby satisfying the strict CLTS criteria required for official ODF certification [1].
Overcoming Harsh Terrain to Restore Dignity
Achieving this status required overcoming significant physical and environmental challenges, as the terrain in Nakingol is notoriously rocky [1]. Lacking heavy machinery, local residents constructed their latrines using makeshift tools and locally sourced materials [1]. For residents like Pauke Esinyen, a mother of five children, the initiative has restored basic human dignity [1]. Esinyen noted that before the March 2026 triggering, her family had to endure the constant foul smell of open defecation, whereas today, her entire household consistently uses their newly constructed toilet [1].
Scaling Up Sanitation Across Turkana Central
Nakingol’s success is part of a broader regional sanitation campaign. The village is among 143 villages in Turkana Central targeted under WHH’s SCORE II programme, which is led by UNICEF and funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) [1]. With Nakingol’s certification, 89 villages out of the original target remain to be covered [1]. This means that 54 villages have now successfully attained ODF status under this specific programme, representing 37.762 per cent of the target, with the remaining communities scheduled to be transitioned before the programme’s June 2027 deadline [1].