Brief: Working with WIWAS to address the needs of sanitation workers in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya

Supported by the ARISE responsive challenge fund, the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) worked with Women in Water and Sanitation Association (WIWAS) to address the accountability and responsiveness to sanitation workers, specifically manual pit emptiers (MPEs) as right holders. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation goals relies on a significant increase in sanitation workers with safe, dignified, and healthy work environments. In Nairobi’s informal settlements, inadequate infrastructure leads to poor sanitation services and unsafe working conditions for MPEs. These sanitation heroes often face health risks, injuries, and even death due to the physically and emotionally demanding nature of their work (lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, stigma) and a lack of protective gear, causing direct contact with human waste. Their invisibility within society exacerbates these challenges. This brief presents activities, key outcomes, lessons and recommendations of clear and practical actions for improving occupational health and safety (OHS) and increasing visibility of MPEs with regard to social accountability in sanitation service provision.

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