On Friday, April 4, 2025, the Kitui County Ministry of Health and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, took part in a high-level workshop on the Kenya Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project (K-WASH). The World Bank-funded initiative aims to improve access to clean water and sanitation in 19 rural and arid-semi-arid lands (ASAL) counties. This effort aligns with Kenya’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which targets universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
The two-day workshop emphasized the need for counties to develop and submit a County Water Sanitation Strategy and Investment Plan (CWSSIP) to qualify for a portion of the Ksh 3.6 billion funding. Kitui County’s delegation actively engaged in discussions about existing challenges in water and sanitation infrastructure. Key concerns included limited sanitation facilities, the prevalence of waterborne diseases, and the need for sustainable solutions to enhance water supply and hygiene services.
Among those representing Kitui County at the workshop were Chief Officer for Public Health and Sanitation, Lynn Kitwan, Chief Officer for Water, Nathan Vungo, Senior Assistant Director of Public Health, Faith Mutinda, and Engineer Kennedy Mutati, alongside other senior county officials. Their participation was crucial in ensuring Kitui’s interests and needs were adequately addressed in the national dialogue on water and sanitation development.
In a separate but equally important development, Kitui County has continued to enhance its immunization program by improving vaccine storage infrastructure. The county benefited from the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform (CCEOP), receiving 61 cold chain units from GAVI through the Division of Vaccines and Immunization. These included 17 solar-powered refrigerators and 44 grid-powered units, all of which were distributed across the county’s eight sub-counties to strengthen vaccine storage capacity.
Furthermore, the county is set to receive an additional 85 cold chain units, consisting of 50 electricity-powered and 35 solar-powered refrigerators. These were procured with support from UNICEF on behalf of the Ministry of Health (MOH) through a World Bank-funded initiative. The procurement was guided by a comprehensive storage capacity assessment to identify gaps and prioritize the most underserved areas. The first batch of 45 units was distributed across all sub-counties, while the remaining 40 will be allocated upon successful installation and commissioning of the initial units.
The efforts in both water and sanitation development and vaccine storage infrastructure underscore Kitui County’s commitment to improving public health services. By addressing key challenges in sanitation and immunization, the county is making significant strides toward enhancing the well-being of its residents and meeting national and global health targets. These initiatives, supported by strategic partnerships and international funding, will have a lasting impact on public health access in the region.
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