September 2010
Follow us over the course of a year as we help the community of Matopeni in Nairobi, Kenya, build clean water and sanitation facilities.
Supported by Christian Aid partner Maji na Ufanisi (MNU), residents of Matopeni have been working throughout August and into September to ensure their new sanitation facilities are finished as soon as possible.
Work on main drain complete
Since work began on 26 July 2010 to construct Matopeni's new drains, 650 metres of drainage has been laid. Although the initial plan was to construct a 500 metre drain, a detour had to be made after work began requiring additional materials and labour. Nonetheless, the main drain is now complete and community members employed through the project can begin work on the next stage.
The main drain will carry away sewage and other waste from five feeder drains running through the settlement.
Community compromise brings rewards
'We will persevere because we need a good environment.'
The existing drains run alongside residents' homes and are too small to meet the community's needs. Christian Aid partner MNU and local women's group Arise and Shine met with the people whose homes would be affected by the work who agreed that walls adjacent to the drains’ route could be moved.
While families already live in cramped conditions, the slum's residents see improving sanitation as a priority and so are willing to give their support to the project.
'It will affect some of our houses. We have small houses, but when they come and reduce it, it will become smaller,' explains David, a builder who lives in Matopeni. 'We will persevere because we need a good environment.'
Construction of these feeder drains will begin in late September. Veronica Milla and Catherine Kithuku sent us a photograph to show why it was so important to move the walls of these homes >
Local election draws near
Frustratingly, work on a toilet block funded by the local government has paused in the run up to an election in Matopeni's Starehe constituency in late September. With a new MP expected to take office, MNU will work help build an effective relationship between the community and their parliamentary representative to ensure the work is completed.
September snapshot from Matopeni
The children of Matopeni
