By Grace Okwisa
The global theme for World Toilet Day, “Toilets — A Place for Peace,” transcends the realm of sanitation and highlights the transformative impact of clean, accessible toilets on the human experience. More than a simple utility, a toilet can be a place of safety, dignity, and even a catalyst for peace in communities. In Kenya, this connection between sanitation and societal harmony is vividly illustrated by the work of FINISH Mondial.
Despite strides in global health, millions of people across the world still lack access to basic sanitation. According to the World Health Organisation, 3.6 billion people live without safely managed toilets. In Kenya, many rural and informal urban settlements grapple with unsafe sanitation, posing serious risks to public health, human security, and environmental safety. Beyond health implications, lack of access to toilets disproportionately affects women and children, heightening their vulnerability to violence and insecurity when forced to seek private spaces in open fields.
FINISH Mondial Kenya recognises sanitation not merely as a health intervention but as a keystone of community well-being. Through our intervention, over 300,000 toilets have been constructed across Kenya, directly improving the sanitation standards for thousands of households. By developing sustainable sanitation markets and providing training for artisans, sanitation entrepreneurs, and public health officials, FINISH Mondial Kenya is working to reshape how communities view and access toilets. These efforts have also created over 1 million employment days, empowering local communities economically. We are helping to position toilets as an empowerment and social cohesion tool—a place for peace.
Toilets as a Cornerstone of Dignity and Security
The concept of “Toilets — A Place for Peace” underscores the psychological and social relief that accompanies improved sanitation. For vulnerable groups—especially women, children, and people with disabilities—safe toilets represent a protected space that restores dignity. FINISH Mondial Kenya has made strides by advocating for communities to construct safely managed toilets, emphasising privacy and safety.
Toilets do more than reduce immediate risks; they create opportunities for dialogue, education, and community unity. For example, FINISH Mondial organises health awareness sessions to educate families on hygiene practices, the dangers of open defecation, and menstrual health management. Such gatherings facilitate shared understanding and foster a collective sense of responsibility, reducing conflict and laying the groundwork for lasting peace.
Economic Empowerment and Inclusive Growth
Another dimension of peace lies in economic empowerment, and FINISH Mondial Kenya’s model thrives here. By training over 500 local artisans and supporting the creation of sanitation businesses, the organisation promotes economic independence. Skilled artisans can earn a livelihood by constructing and maintaining toilets, while local entrepreneurs gain resources and market access to sustain affordable, high-quality sanitation products.
This model helps keep sanitation improvements viable in the long term and instils pride and ownership among community members. With economic stability comes a reduction in tension and competition over scarce resources—a key driver of community-level conflicts. As families gain confidence in their financial prospects, peace becomes a tangible aspiration, no longer derailed by the daily struggle for basic needs.
Toilets and Environmental Stewardship
Peace extends beyond people and into our relationship with the environment. Improperly managed sanitation can lead to water pollution, soil degradation, and exposure to deadly diseases. FINISH Mondial Kenya promotes safely managed sanitation systems that not only allow emptying and treating excreta off-site but also transporting excreta through a sewer with wastewater treating them off-site.
The transformation of human waste into safe, usable compost protects the environment and reduces the spread of disease.
Beyond 2024: Building Sustainable Solutions
World Toilet Day 2024’s theme is both timely and necessary. As we reflect on the simple act of accessing a clean toilet, we must recognise that peace and prosperity cannot thrive without a solid foundation in basic human dignity and security. FINISH Mondial Kenya’s interventions provide an exemplary roadmap for making this vision a reality. By investing in safely managed sanitation, the organisation is empowering communities to reclaim their dignity, protect their health, and foster environments where peace can flourish.
As Kenya—and indeed the world—reflects on what it means to create spaces for peace, we must champion the role of toilets in building healthier, more cohesive communities. Our mission is clear: the path to peace runs through every door that leads to a clean, safe, and accessible toilet. Toilets — A Place for Peace, is more than a theme; it is a lived reality.
