Landlords in Kotido Municipality have been issued an ultimatum to build latrines in 90 days or face litigation or closure.
The warning was issued on 7 February by the Health Inspector Kotido Municipality Callisto Awar in his written communication to specific landlords without latrines in the Municipality.
The 90 day ultimatum targets landlords with rentals, residential, factories, workshops, and or bakeries located within the Municipality but without latrines hence causing or contributing to public nuisance, an offence which can cause annoyance, or facilitate spread of an infection.
Nuisance is an act or omission which includes but not limited to lack of a latrine hence open defecation, bushy compound, poor or open manholes, sewerage leakage, poor garbage management or anything that displeases the public and authorities.
According to Public Health Act, 2000, the offense attracts a legal procedure that may lead to closure, or fines of 8 shillings per day after litigation from the time of order.
According to official estimates, there over 8,700 of the 10, 000 households in the Municipality without sanitary latrines.
North Division’s Eugine Olanya, Health Assistant says this must be the time for authorities to demonstrate need for proper latrine coverage.
He called it a shame but legally a “nuisance” which attracts consequences including closure and fines.
The move according to our investigations was ordered by Kotido District Resident Commissioner, Charles Ichogor who has consistently expressed his dismay at the Kotido’s low latrine coverage standing at less than 20 %.
