Nakuru County Public Health Department has distanced itself from claims that it had failed to build toilets in Public Primary Schools citing that the mandate is laid on parents.
The county Public Health officer Samuel King’ori said that it is the role of School users to ensure that infrastructures in Schools are in good condition as per the Education Act.
“Parents should spearhead construction of toilets, good quality classes and even hand washing bays in Schools their children go to. This is not the role of county government, hence we should not be blamed for this,” cited officer King’ori.
King’ori admitted that there was a serious toilet shortage in Schools citing that in some cases more than 50 pupils were forced to share a toilet.
“More than 90 percent of our Schools do not have toilets. More than 60 percent do not have a hand washing bay which makes it dangerous,” added King’ori.
The county has a total of approximately 620 Public Primary Schools, 348 Private Primary Schools and 775 Public ECDEs.
The county Health CeC Samuel Mwaura Mwangi cited that in 2013/2014, the county government spent Sh4 million to construct pit latrines which were lined in 6 Schools. In each School, one block of toilet constructed can accommodation 12 students at once.
During the same period (2013/2014), 10 Primary Schools like Kaptebwa, Kivumbini Primary among others within Nakuru East and West Constituencies benefited from sanitary facilities set up by Non-government Organisations.