Kenya’s sanitation sector is set for a digital boost following the official unveiling of SaniBook, a new online platform created to organise sanitation knowledge, spotlight innovation, and support better decision-making across the country.
The launch, held at a Nairobi hotel, was officiated by Dr Eng Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, and Ms Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards. Their involvement reflects the growing understanding that sanitation touches everything from public health and the environment to economic productivity.
SaniBook is being introduced as a unique national repository and publication that gathers information previously scattered across private companies, NGOs, researchers, and public institutions. Its goal is to connect these fragmented efforts with Kenya’s broader sanitation priorities, ensuring projects can be tracked, compared, and scaled more effectively.
The platform is designed to function like a national reference hub for sanitation planning. By bringing data into one place, it will help stakeholders see what is working, where gaps exist, and how resources can be directed with fewer overlaps. Supporters say it will also make progress that often goes unnoticed easier to measure—helping sanitation gain recognition as a real contributor to economic development.
The costs of poor sanitation remain high. Estimates indicate Kenya spends about Sh4.3 billion every year treating diseases linked to unsafe water and sanitation. The country also loses around Sh2.1 billion in productivity when illness forces people to miss work and school. With only about 15 per cent of the population connected to sewer systems, experts point to a massive Sh500 billion infrastructure shortfall if Kenya is to meet its sanitation goals.
Speaking at the event, Elizabeth Mwangi, WaSHVoice Founding CEO and Programme Director, said sanitation should be viewed beyond basic facilities, noting that it is closely linked to innovation, economic participation, and inclusive growth.During testing, the SaniBook team reported identifying seven key obstacles that have slowed progress toward safely managed sanitation for everyone. Addressing these barriers could help reduce the 72 per cent service gap that still leaves millions without reliable sanitation services.
Experts also highlight the economic value of sanitation investment. Estimates suggest that for every Sh130 invested in improved sanitation, Kenya could gain about Sh650 through reduced healthcare costs, better productivity, and environmental protection.
The team behind SaniBook is now inviting government agencies, NGOs, private innovators, and research institutions to submit their data and join the platform, arguing that stronger collaboration and shared evidence will be critical to achieving national sanitation targets faster.
