Availability of Sanitary Waste Disposal Mechanism in Toilets of Public Primary Schools Across Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Background: Hygiene involves practices that prevent disease spread, focusing on households and public facilities. Poor sanitation, including unsafe waste disposal and dirty water, causes 88% of diarrheal diseases globally. In Kenya, diarrheal diseases rank second among deadly illnesses linked to fecal contamination, highlighting the need for safe sanitation and proper usage. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design was used and 219 participants in the selected public primary schools participated in the study. Data was collected using administered structured questionnaire, observation and Key Informant Interview. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0 and involved univariate and bivariate analysis. Bivariate analysis was done through logistic regression was used to test the significance of the association between the dependent and independent variables (p<0.05). Qualitative data was analyzed by thematic content analysis. Results: The study involved 219 respondents, with 67.6% male and an almost equal split between school headteachers (50.2%) and deputy headteachers/senior teachers (49.8%). Most respondents (28.3%) had 3-5 years’ experience at their current school. Majority of schools (78.1%) were day schools. Environmental sanitation showed 62.1% of schools had drains, but over half were open, with stagnant water in 45.7% of compounds and 51.6% lacking composite pits. Water system maintenance was inconsistent; 56.6% agreed repairs were regular, yet some disagreed on maintenance frequency. Functional water systems, regular repairs, and maintenance significantly predicted water availability for handwashing outside toilets. Conclusions: The study found significant sanitation gaps in Tharaka Nithi schools: 62.1% had drains, over half open, causing stagnant water in 45.7% of compounds. Only 58% of latrines were clean, with inconsistent water system maintenance. Functional, well-maintained water systems significantly improved handwashing water availability, highlighting urgent intervention needs.