Changing Perceptions and Breaking Barriers for Women in Sanitation

At 35 years old, Millicent Oswe, a mother of three from Dago, one of Kisumu's informal settlements, is challenging stereotypes and transforming lives through her work in the sanitation sector.

UNICEF Kenya, in partnership with Fresh Life, is implementing SPARK 2.0, a global innovation accelerator led by UNICEF’s Office of Innovation that supports scaling of locally proven solutions in climate-resilient WASH and health systems. SPARK focuses on strengthening the enabling environment for non-sewered sanitation (NSS) through the development and validation of a Deployment Playbook. This practical tool supports governments, utilities, and service providers to plan, regulate, coordinate, and scale sanitation services, addressing key bottlenecks such as institutional fragmentation, regulatory gaps, and limited financing.

Working with Sequence Holdings, a local sanitation enterprise partnering with KIWASCO and collaborating with Fresh Life and UNICEF, Millicent plays a critical role in delivering safe sanitation services to underserved communities. Through this partnership, Sequence Holdings is piloting the Non-Sewered Sanitation (NSS) Deployment Playbook, a practical guide designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises strengthen and scale inclusive sanitation services in urban informal settlements. 

The Playbook supports sanitation enterprises to identify operational gaps, improve service delivery, strengthen worker safety, and create an enabling environment for sustainable sanitation businesses. For workers like Millicent, this has translated into access to training, quality assurance support, business marketing and opportunities for women to participate in a sector traditionally dominated by men.

For many years, pit emptying and sanitation work were considered "dirty jobs" reserved for men. Like many women, Millicent initially faced scepticism and discouragement from members of her community when she entered the profession. Today, however, she proudly wears her uniform and carries out her duties with confidence and purpose.

Unlike some of the Fresh Life waste collectors who begin their routes earlier, Millicent starts her day at around 6:00 a.m. due to security considerations. She is often accompanied along her route by fellow sanitation workers, ensuring both safety and teamwork. By 9:00 a.m., she has completed her sanitation rounds and can attend to her other responsibilities and income-generating activities. 

Her daily work involves removing full waste containers from sanitation facilities, replacing them with clean containers, and thoroughly disinfecting the toilets before moving on to the next household. The filled containers are then transported by Millicent to a designated collection point, where male colleagues consolidate them for onward transportation using handcarts and vehicles. 

The sanitation value chain extends beyond collection. Once transported to the treatment site, another team comprising several women takes over. Their responsibilities include emptying the waste into designated treatment facilities, washing and disinfecting the containers, cleaning reusable bin liners, and preparing the equipment for the next collection cycle. 

Throughout her work, Millicent prioritizes safety. She wears appropriate personal protective equipment, including gloves, gumboots, and a face mask. She has also received vaccinations and undergone occupational health and safety training, alongside quality assurance and operational training from both Fresh Life and Sequence Holdings. 

"The training helped me understand how to protect myself and safely handle sanitation waste," she explains. "I feel confident knowing I am working in a safe environment."

Her commitment and positive attitude have earned admiration from community members.

One household user and former Community Health Promoter (CHP), Consalata shared: "I am happy to see Millicent embracing sanitation work. She is helping transform our community. We no longer see open defecation in many areas, and sanitation services like these help reduce the spread of diseases. She is setting an example that women can succeed in any profession while making a real difference in people's lives."

Millicent's story demonstrates how inclusive sanitation services can create employment opportunities, empower women, and improve public health outcomes. As Sequence Holdings pilots the NSS Deployment Playbook in Kisumu, her experience shows how strengthening local sanitation enterprises can dismantle barriers, create dignified jobs for women, and ensure communities have access to safe and reliable sanitation services.

As she completes her morning route, Millicent's smile reflects the pride she takes in her work as reminder that meaningful change often begins with individuals willing to challenge norms and serve their communities.