Mandera County, Kenya — Sarohindi and Aresa villages in Mandera East Sub-County have been officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), marking a significant milestone in community-led sanitation and hygiene promotion.
The achievement follows sustained community mobilization, household follow-up visits and sanitation awareness activities implemented by the Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) under the ELEVATE Africa Project, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The two villages recorded 151 households with sanitation facilities against a combined target of 104, exceeding the target by 47 households. Sarohindi recorded 76 households, while Aresa achieved 75. The declarations were made following verification by the Mandera East Sub-County Public Health team, with IOM representatives witnessing the milestone.
The celebrations recognized the collective efforts of community members, village elders, natural leaders, sanitation committees and public health teams in promoting household latrine construction, improved hygiene practices and the elimination of open defecation. Commemorative billboards were also erected in both villages to recognize the achievement and encourage neighbouring communities to adopt improved sanitation practices.
Through ELEVATE Africa, RACIDA continues to integrate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), livelihoods and peacebuilding interventions to strengthen community resilience across Mandera East and Lafey.
Maintaining ODF status will require continued community engagement, regular public health monitoring and consistent hygiene promotion to sustain these gains and extend improved sanitation to neighbouring villages.
