Briefly, by 2013, when MnU started its WASH intervention in the Kongowea public market, the situation was simply a nightmare. The market was dirty, with dilapidated water and sanitation facilities. Occurrences of water and vector diseases was very common. Indeed, the stench emanating from these blocked sanitation facilities could be smelt 100 metres away.
Maji na Ufanisi scooped the first position in the 2015 AfricaSan Awards, Youth Category where recognition is given to agencies and organisations that promote water and sanitation with a positive and significant impact on the youth.
Maji na Ufanisi first piloted the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Enterprise Model (WASHEM) in Mombasa County's Kongowea market, where 60 public toilets were rehabilitated. The facilities were redesigned to be disability friendly and handed to youth groups for management. The youths were trained on basic business skills. Currently, each facility generates enough revenue to cater for maintenance and staff salaries.