Nancy Akinyi was increasingly worried about her family’s toilet situation. It was not only unsightly but also infested with sewer flies, creating significant health risks. When her husband mentioned a company that offered loans for toilet construction, she encouraged him to seize the opportunity.
That company was Elphords Services L.L.P., a microcredit enterprise founded in 2019, specializing in WASH financing in Western Kenya. Since its inception, Elphords has disbursed over 2,000 loans, with women representing more than 60% of borrowers.
“Women often take the lead in repaying the loans, even if their husbands initially took them out. Once they see the positive impact on their lives, they become personally invested in ensuring that the facilities are well-maintained,” explains Denish Owiti, Director and Co-Founder of Elphords Services.
In early 2024, WSUP Kenya, funded by the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), made a catalytic investment of approximately USD 1,300 to Elphords as part of its Kenya Market-Based Sanitation (KMBS) project. This funding has increased awareness and outreach efforts, enabling Elphords to provide loans to an additional 180 individuals totaling over USD 6,000. Each loan represents a family gaining access to safe, clean toilets, thereby improving their health, safety, and overall well-being—especially for women and girls.
In Kisumu’s informal settlements, the lack of access to safe sanitation has long posed significant challenges, exposing residents—particularly women, children, and the elderly—to various health risks and social issues. Elphords Services LLP aims to address this problem by offering WASH credit services that empower low-income households to invest in essential sanitation facilities. However, their outreach and educational efforts were initially limited due to resource constraints.
Recognizing Elphords’ potential for significant impact, WSUP with funding from The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, provided a catalytic investment of $1,375 over four months. These funds were allocated for developing marketing materials and raising awareness about the benefits of improved sanitation while encouraging households to utilize Elphords’ credit services.
With enhanced visibility and understanding of their options, Elphords successfully disbursed loans totaling $5,425 to 29 households. This initiative benefited 145 individuals, approximately 52% of whom were women and girls. The impact of these loans extends well beyond financial transactions. By facilitating access to safe sanitation facilities, Elphords has helped reduce health risks associated with unsafe sanitation practices—especially for women and children. Improved sanitation facilities also enhance privacy and security for women and girls, significantly elevating their quality of life.
“We have ambitious plans to expand our reach and impact. Our goal is to provide sanitation loans to an additional 50 households in the coming year while securing resources to increase loan disbursement by 50%. We are particularly committed to empowering women and girls so that at least 60% of our beneficiaries are women,” asserts Mr.Owiti.
Kisumu County aims to achieve 70% sanitation coverage by 2025, and Elphords is determined to support this aspiration among low-income communities.