Actors and their contributions to solid waste management in Eldoret municipality,Kenya
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Date
2011-08-10
Authors
Opinde, Godwin Omondi
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Abstract
Eldoret municipality, like any other principal urban center in Kenya has experienced phenomenal expansion over the last five decades coupled with organizational, fiscal and political problems. This has led to inability to cope up with the rapid rate of urban population growth resulting in excessive strain in service delivery including solid waste management. The inability of the municipality to effectively manage solid waste has resulted in increased pollution, potential public health problems, and ecological as well as socioeconomic impacts. This situation has necessitated a paradigm shift from state-led SWM to involvement of multiplicity of actors which has led to somewhat improvement in solid waste management. However the full potential of the actors has not been harnessed because of lack of clear operational structures and inadequate data on the activities of these actors leading to problems such as escalation of costs and unequal access to SWM services. This study sought to assess the contributions of actors to solid waste management in the municipality by reviewing policies and institutional framework governing multi-stakeholder involvement in solid waste management, assessing the activities of the actors, their capacity and suggesting measures to improve multistakeholder participation in solid waste management. The study sampled the registered Private waste collectors, NGOs and CBOs involved in solid waste management based on the lists obtained from departments of social services and environment in Eldoret municipality and Uasin Gishu district headquarters. Data collection techniques used in the study were observation with field trips, questionnaire and literature review. Eldoret municipal council, private waste collectors and CBOs provide services of solid waste management in Municipality. However they have inadequate capacity to effectively and efficiently provide solid waste management services. The Eldoret municipal council has inadequate refuse collection vehicles, unequal distribution of personnel in designated zones, in adequate personnel, in adequate equipment, poor infrastructure in peri- urban areas and they poorly enforce the laws governing solid waste management. The private waste collectors face problems of expensive and multiple licensing for service provision and poor response to payment for solid waste collection service by the households. The Community Based Organizations in Eldoret Municipality have poor organizational structure, inadequate equipment, inadequate finances for solid waste management and a weak relation with the municipal council. The NGOs have weak participation in solid waste management. The study thus concluded that the actors have positive contribution to Solid waste management in Eldoret Municipality and that the enhancement of their capacities and proper integration of their operations in an elaborate framework will enhance the efficiency and efficacy of solid waste management in Eldoret Municipality.
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