The Status, Constraints and Environmental Health Implications of Service Provision and Management in Informal Settlements of Eldoret Municipality, Kenya

Abstract

One of the major challenges facing local authorities in developing countries is how to meet the ever-rising demand for urban environmental services. The problem is prominent in urban informal settlements where service provision and management seems to have failed to cope with rapid expansion and intensification of land-use development. This paper discusses environmental services provision and management in informal settlements of Eldoret Municipality. Stratified random and purposive samplings were used to sample the study sites. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires and urban report cards, interviews, traverse observations and secondary data were also used. Results indicate that there was dismal environmental services provision and management in urban informal settlements of Eldoret, and recommends partnerships in development, extension, operation, and maintenance of environmental services; subcontracting services under built-operate-transfer arrangements; environmental health education; establishment of service tariff distinguishing consumer categories and privatisation.