Puzzle of Millions Collected From Eldoret Locals to Use Public Toilets
The County Government of Uasin Gishu is on the spot following revelations that all public toilets within Eldoret town charge locals a fee before they use the facilities.
KHISA CJ
According to an Eldoret-based human rights activist Kimutai Kirui, each public toilet in the Uasin Gishu’s capital collects up to Ksh10,000 a day, an amount he said was too high.
Speaking in Eldoret, Kirui said it was dehumanizing for the county to ask locals to pay for services from a public utility.
“Access to toilets is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and it’s a requirement that governments set up these facilities to be accessed for free,” note the activist.
“Why are citizens taxed to urinate? This is so dehumanizing,” he added.
Kirui now wants the Public Health Officials in the county to be put to task to explain why locals are asked to pay to access public toilets, and where the funds go to.
“These toilets collect up to Ksh10,000 each in a day. If you count all the public toilets within the town, that makes it a huge sum of money,” said the Centre Against Torture Programs Officer.
He now wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to swing into action and investigate the matter.
Reached for a comment over the issue, Uasin Gishu County Assembly Health Committee chairperson Dr. Hosea Some said “We will act on this accordingly. We have to investigate why that is happening. We will look into it with a very keen eye.”
Public toilets charging locals to use, according to the human rights activist, include those at police stations, hotels, and County Commissioner's headquarters.
