13th February 2009 - Mji wa Huruma, an informal settlement on the outskirts of North-West Nairobi, received a breakthrough as a 3- storey bio-center was officially inaugurated by the Ambassador of the Peoples republic of China to Kenya, H.E. Mr. Ming Zhang and UNEP’s Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Mounkaila Goumandakoye.

The biolatrine under construction

The bio-center is a multi-purpose pilot project which combines sanitation improvement, renewable energy (bio-gas) promotion, capacity building and income generation. Appropriately resembling an African hut, the facility will enhance community development in the settlement as it consists of bio-latrines, shower places, offices and an open-area conference space for the local residents.

H.E Mr. Ming Zhang dancing with children from Huruma village

UNEP became associated with the Huruma Village Community through the Nairobi River Basin Programme, in March 2005. Under the ‘One-UN’ team, UNEP, UN-Habitat and UNDP provided training for the community on bee-keeping resulting in the harvesting of honey as an alternative source of income generation. In order to improve the conditions of the community, the agencies together with Umande Trust, a non-governmental organization, ventured into establishing a formal water and sanitation project.

Bio-center ground breaking ceremony in 2008

In February, 2008, with the kind donation of $25,000 from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the Bio-center project was initiated at the Huruma village. The Nairobi River Basin Programme coordinated the construction as well as community empowerment through training in business management and project supervision.. One year later, the residents can now breathe an air of relief and contentment as clean hygiene practices will be fostered within the community. The construction of a bio-latrine will satisfy the community’s vast need for a proper sanitation facility and alleviate the negative impacts on the environment caused by human waste. The offices and conference space which can be rented out, will generate income for the community as well as provide experience on management thus ensuring community residents the possibility and opportunity to venture out into such initiatives independently, in the future.

Mounkaila Goumandakoye, ROA Director with the Chinese Ambassador, H.E Mr. Zang

During the inauguration ceremony , Mr. Goumandakoye reaffirmed UNEP’s commitment  in working with local communities on the ground and stimulating effective partnerships with governments,  NGO’s, public and private sectors, in improving livelihoods in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious way. H.E Mr. Zang, accentuated that the Chinese government was pleased to work with both UNEP and Umande Trust in this project and was eager to continue supporting such schemes that would benefit a large population especially living in poor conditions. This bio-center project is viewed as an adequate sanitation facility which will increase community awareness on hygiene especially regarding water collection, hand-washing and waste disposal whilst simultaneously promoting employment creation and encouraging income-generating activities for residents. The success of this project can be shared with other informal settlements or communities in raising their living standards, sustainably.