In Mathare, a new system allows residents to access toilet services using prepaid cards. Equity Bank and Twaweza, a non-governmental organization, have introduced this technology under Equity's Beba Pay platform.
Users must top up their cards with a specific amount of money at the toilet where they intend to use the services. According to David Ojiem, Chairman of the community-based Twaweza project, the initiative aims to minimize theft and reduce the incidence of 'flying toilets' in the area.
Ojiem noted that the project, which has been running for almost a year, faces challenges due to slow resident adaptation to the technology and a limited number of machines to serve the population. Currently, only one public toilet in Mathare offers this service.
The United Nations General Assembly had declared 28 July 2010 as a day to celebrate sanitation, and local officials, including the Mathare area District Officer, have engaged with residents on the issue.
