Biogas Technology, Management of Human Excrement in Mukuru Kwa Njenga Slums, Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2024-02
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Kenya is one of the developing countries with insufficient management of human waste in urban slums. One of the technologies used in Kenya's informal settlements to ensure sustainable management of human excrement is biogas technology. The Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums were chosen as the research area to evaluate the feasibility of employing technology to address current sanitation issues and enhance the livelihoods of populations living in informal settlements. The project's specific goals were to evaluate the effects of biogas technology on addressing sanitation issues in the study area, to determine the socio-economic effects of technology adoption on the study area residents, and to determine the main impediments to technology utilization. A descriptive research design was used. Six key informants were interviewed, as well as a sample of 100 households that included 50 technology users and 50 non-users. The information was then displayed in tables and charts. Multiple linear regression was employed to determine demographic factors that significantly influence the use of biogas technology. Chi-square and spearman’s rho were used to test for relationship between variables. Gender (P= .001) and education levels (P= .001) were found to significantly influence the use of technology. According to the study, there is a strong correlation between using technology and prevention of overflowing of fecal matter during severe rains, (r2= .513, P= .000, N=100) and reduced cases of open defecation (r2= .457, P= .000, N= 100). Managing human excrement results into conducive environment (median 2, N=50) and healthy family members (median 2, N=50). Inaccessibility (r2= -.634, P= .000, N=100), High installation cost (r2= -.458, P= .000, N=100), technology unreliability (r2= -.445, P=.000, N=100) and cultural beliefs (r2= -.422, P=.000, N=100) were found to have significant negative influence on management of human excrement through biogas technology. The study comes to the conclusion that using biogas technology to handle human waste has the ability to address the sanitation issues in the study area.
Description
Research Project Submitted in partial fulfillment for the Award of Degree of Master of Environmental Education (Sustainable Urban Development) in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of Kenyatta University, February 2024.
Supervisor
Daniel G. Mang’uriu