Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)
was introduced in Kilifi District, Kenya in
2007. There has been a steep uptake in the
construction and use of latrines by local
communities. From only one in 2007, there
are now over 200 open defecation free
(ODF) villages. The number of latrines
increased from 300 in 2007 to over 4,550
in 2009. The success of CLTS benefited
from local sanitation practices, which hinge
on cultural beliefs that affect all aspects of
the villagers’ day-to-day activities. These
helped trigger the community’s desire to
end open defecation and embrace CLTS.
This article examines the link between
those local sanitation practices and the
success of CLTS in Kilifi.