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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 7
Publication Date: July 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.87.10423. Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya.
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid
Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya
Mecheo O. Naftal, PhD
Urban Environmental Governance Management
Wangari Maathai Institute- University of Nairobi Kenya
ABSTRACT
Urban domestic solid waste is increasingly being generated in many urban centres
including middle sized towns. In many urban areas in developing countries there’s
a growing need and awakening for meeting the waste disposal for the ever
increasing population. This paper examines and analyses the varied treatment and
disposal methods of domestic solid waste employed in Kisii town. The specific
objective of the study include: to assess the adequacy of the available management
systems of handling domestic solid waste (DSW) in Kisii town. A mixed methodology
approach was taken into consideration. A sample of 110 households was obtained
using the multi stage stratified sampling method. Data collection methods of the
sampled size involved the use of questionnaires to 110 householders and direct
interviews to 2 county officers in charge of DSW and observation integrated with
photography. Data analysis was carried out using methods such as use of tables and
graphs through SPSS. The results indicate that the storage facilities are inadequate
for the residents, the collection times are not only insufficient but also irregular, the
transportation means employed are limited, and disposal and treatment of the DSW
is limited to mainly open dumping at the overfilled Nyambera dumpsite. In
conclusion, the management methods of the DSW are inadequate and pose severe
health risks to the residents of Kisii. It is recommended that, for effective domestic
solid waste management adequate bins should be provided in the town, collection
should be regular and indiscriminate in all estates, recycling, re-use, reduce and
energy recovery should be introduced to move from challenges to opportunities.
Finally, an integrated model of integrating CBOs and private groups in management
of DSW is suggested to ensure sustainable solid waste management.
Keywords: Assessment, adequacy, domestic solid waste management, Kisii town, Kenya.
INTRODUCTION
Solid waste is produced in all residential areas with human inhabitation. The management of
the waste thus has become a critical problem to different counties and towns especially in
developing countries. In many urban areas in developing countries there’s a growing need and
awakening for meeting the waste disposal for the ever increasing population (Foster, 2011).
This may remain as one of the most crucial, expensive and even difficult duties of many urban
authorities such as counties currently in Kenya and in particular Kisii town.
With the exponentially increasing urban population, most towns have been incapacitated in
their ability to manage domestic solid waste which accounts for 70% of the total garbage or the
solid waste generated in the towns. It has been noted that households generate more solid
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waste than the local authorities in most county headquarters as in the case of Kisii town, than
the town’s authorities can handle (Habitat, 1987).
Inadequate resource mobilization, has greatly affected the effectiveness of household solid
waste management in most developing nations’ towns. This case is replicated in Kisii town
where the county and the municipality are not injecting adequate efforts to manage the solid
waste. Thus inadequate resource mobilization and allocation creates a situation of poor solid
waste management in the town (Nath, 1993).
Poor management of the wastes observed in many towns in developing countries is attributed
to the inefficient and irregular collection, not separating the generated waste, poor storage,
transportation and disposal. This challenge has been observed in relation to the solid waste
management organization and structures in the municipal and county’s ability in managing the
wastes (Kiplagat, 1999).
Inadequate use of technology to enhance waste minimization through energy extraction so that
energy can be generated from the waste is evident in many towns in developing countries. Also
the significance of recovery and reduction of solid waste is lacking. This could enable the use of
alternative means to manage the domestic solid waste generated in the urban areas (Oluchiri,
2002).
The inadequacies of proper water supply and sanitation measures have adversely affected the
hygiene of the towns in many developing countries; such that the residents dispose their refuse
along and near the water sources (Ongore et al, 1996). Kisii town also experiences critical
problems in the water supply, the sanitation measures and a poor sewerage system this has
contributed to the residents indiscriminately disposing their solid wastes along the river
courses such as the areas near Daraja Mbili market and near the bridges at Nyanchwa residence.
These suggest a need for a well-planned policy by the county on these areas so as to contain the
solid wastes.
The constraint that come up in public and private partnership in garbage removal in developing
countries have hindered the effective and efficient domestic solid waste in many urban areas
as evidenced in Kisii municipality (Layton, 1986). These challenges of garbage collection entail
low priority ascribed to the service to citizen by authorities, budget crisis, and few legal barriers
that discourage private sectors; unwillingness for the consumers to pay for the services limiting
the service to high income residential who can afford to pay for the services; leaving the low
income residential areas with heaps of uncollected wastes (Layton 1986).
There are inadequate solid waste management systems due to poor architectural designs of
refuse and laxity in the enforcement of building by laws; in various counties and towns in
Kenya. This has led to the indiscriminate methods of waste management in the towns. For
example the disposal method in most towns is the use of open landfills as in the case of Kisii
town. Also the storage of the domestic solid waste before they are collected in most towns in
developing countries leaves much to be desired (Mbugua, 1980).
There has been a cycle of lack of sufficient resources in most county headquarters in Kenya and
in most towns in developing countries; a situation prevalent in Kisii town which severely limits
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
a range of options to the towns. This situation limits the collection, transportation and the
disposal of the solid wastes generated within the town by the households and other sources,
thus the management of the household wastes often consume up to half of the budgets of the
towns (Adam, 1995).
In comparing the slum areas and the expensive residential areas of high income earners; the
county authority is more effective in collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in
the high affluent estates as compared to the services provided to the slum dwellers (Algak,
1995). This disparity is evident currently in Kenyan towns and is predominant in Kisii town. A
proper more inclusive waste management strategy is required which will accommodate and
cater for the low income earners. This will enable the provision of services to the tax payers
regardless of their level of income and their residential areas, (Kibwage, 1996).
Domestic solid waste management in middle-sized towns such as Kisii has become a vital
problem to local authorities and municipal authorities especially in developing countries.
Consequently, UNEP (2006) observed that the impact of solid wastes in urban environments
has become more and more intractable. For example it’s estimated that more than 5 million
people die annually in urban areas worldwide from diseases related to inadequate waste
management systems (UNDP, 1991).
Most towns especially the county headquarters in Kenya as in the case in many developing
countries heavily over- rely on imported equipment and technologies in the management of
household solid wastes,(UNEP,2015). This over- reliance evidenced in Kisii town has led to the
slow development especially on the management of solid waste (household) generated within
the town by its residents. Therefore, there is need to develop a comprehensive alternative ways
to manage the domestic solid waste in the town (Nath, 1993).
Inadequate supervision of the workers and also poor maintenance of vehicles are the major
problems for solid waste management the towns, (Otieno, 2010). The work of the county
workers in terms of collection of the waste is shoddy in most towns in the developing countries.
These are evident in Kisii town such that the workers of the county are minimally supervised
resulting in shoddy work in terms of collection, transportation and the disposal of the waste.
Otieno, also it is noted that the maintenance of the vehicles which are used to collect and
transport waste is rarely done surmounting to the breakdown of many vehicles thus the reason
behind the uncollected waste in most parts of the town. This necessitates the need for a proper
management of the domestic solid waste in Kisii town (Munuve, 1990).
Administrative and financial problems have hindered the efficient solid waste management on
the Kisii town. Budgetary constraints in the municipality and the county have greatly
contributed to the inadequacy of systems of managing the waste in the town (Agevi 1991). Also,
municipalities in Africa spend as much as 70% of their budget on garbage management as noted
by Agevi a figure that leaves minimal budgetary allocation for the development of the towns in
other sectors.
The manner in which garbage is disposed of in urban areas poses a health hazard to the people
living in the surroundings of the dumping site. A replica in Kisii town has been noted as the
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domestic solid waste is disposed within the town. Thus garbage dumping sites should be
located far from inhabited areas (Kalendu 1995).
The lack of equipment such as: bins in major collection points, vehicles and tractors for
transportation and treatment equipment lead to the municipality ineffectiveness in handling
solid waste, (Nyakaana, 1996). Kisii town to a great extent lacks equipment such as bins,
collecting polythene bags, sorting out bins, vehicles and tractors and even digesters and
disposal sites such as closed landfills. This has adversely affected the management of domestic
solid waste management in the town. The inadequacies of the equipment have also contributed
to the uneven collection, sometimes uncollected, poorly collected and unsafe disposal of the
domestic solid waste in the town.
The scarcity of disposal sites in many urban municipalities which results in vehicles criss- crossing town centres to the few available disposal sites to dispose the refuse is evident in Kisii
town. The main disposal site in Kisii town is Nyambera; this is the only disposal site for the
whole town though lately the dumping site has been grabbed by private developers, rendering
the town without a dumping site. The limited disposal sites in the town for refuse disposal has
encouraged the vehicles and tractors transporting the household solid waste to criss cross the
town thus dropping some of the wastes in the town and even causing discomfort to the urban
people who engage in various day to day activities. This necessitates the need for effective and
efficient managing the domestic solid wastes in the town (Omondi, 1998).
The reasons for the deteriorating state of solid waste management in most urban centres are
that: most municipalities are led by politicians who adopt systems from other places without
considering differential conditions, institutional circles problems, fragmentation of
responsibilities, failure by the county authorities to coordinate the waste management and also
failure to coordinate between ministries a prevalent case in Kisii town (Kayongo, 1997).
Kayongo also, observed that health problems in urban areas can be caused by solid waste if
precautionary measures are not taken in time because solid waste cause long- term pollution
of air, land and water. Effects such as explosive gases are generated, contaminates water bodies,
acid rains prevail from air pollution.
These inadequacies are common in many big towns/cities in developing countries. This study
sought to establish the inadequacies associated with middle sized town such as Kisii to bring to
knowledge the challenges of managing DSW in these towns which are developing which in most
cases have not been dealt with.
METHODOLOGY
The study area
Kisii town is geographically located on Latitude: 0° 41' 0 S and Longitude: 34° 46' 0 E. The town
is a driving distance of 309 km (192 mi) from Kenya's capital city of Nairobi, located east- southeast, on Class B3 all-weather road. It lies at an altitude of 1,700 m (5,577 ft) above sea
level on the slopes of Kisii highlands. Kisii town is the county headquarters of Kisii County in
the Nyanza region western Kenya. The town covers 8 km2 (3 sq mi) and it has recently
expanded rapidly to cover a peripheral extent of 29 km2 (11 sq mi), a total of 37 km2 (14 sq mi).
Kisii receives frequent relief rains and enjoys a highland climate (KMC, 2010. The location of
Kisii town on the highlands facilitates the growth of a vast vegetation cover making the region
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
produce a lot of food crops and vegetation which form the large part of the domestic solid waste
generated in the varied residential areas of the town. The rapid expansion of the town has
resulted in the creation of more residential estates such as Ufanisi, Getare, Milimani and
Nyanchwa which have enhanced the stratification of the residential areas and also contribute
tremendously to the generation of domestic solid waste putting pressure to the existing solid
waste management systems.
Figure 1.1: A map showing location of Kisii town in Kenya and its various estates.
Figure 1: Map of Kisii Municipality
Source: Kisii Topographical Sheet 130/2 G.O.K (1991)
Research Design
For the study to meet the set objectives, the researcher took into consideration a household
descriptive survey design, which covered selected residential estates within Kisii town. Kisii
town has been chosen as one of the rapidly growing county headquarters in Kenya.
In order to carry out the design effectively, the researcher recognizes the need to classify the
town’s residential areas into distinct environmental neighborhoods according to income levels
of the residents. This catered for differential respondents’ perceptions and activities on the
research subject. Therefore, this entailed the division of the area into different major zones of
residential/environmental areas using the multi- stage sampling method.
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The researcher issued 110 questionnaires to the residents in the three sampled estates in Kisii
town and 2 in depth interviews were conducted to county officers in charge of public health,
town planning, waste collection and environmental management with a view of having reliable
and valid findings. The officers that interviewed were purposively picked from the county
department in charge of solid waste management in the town to improve on the level of
accuracy and relevance of the information collected.
Study population/ Sampling criteria
Kisii town has more than 20,000 households in all estates currently (KMC, 2010). Using the
multi-stage sampling three estates were chosen by dividing the entire study area into different
major residential areas based on the environmental indicators as the structures of the existing
households such as: the levels of income and the prevailing environmental conditions of the
residents.
Consequently, the residential zones were stratified as high income residential (HIR), middle
income residential zones (MIR), and low income residential zones (LIR). This was done in
collaboration with the county authorities who helped in this classification since their
determination was more precise. This facilitated the selection of the households that were
interviewed. Using the most populous estate in the category three estates were selected as
follows: Nyanchwa, Jogoo and Mwembe which have more than 300, 600 and 800 households
respectively.
The three residential classifications estates were selected from the existing estates namely:
Menyinkwa, Gekomu, Nyanchwa, Jogoo, Mwembe, Campus, Gesonso, Daraja Mbili, Nyamataro,
Bonubi, Egesa, Bochura, Omosocho, Milimani and Getare among others. The table below shows
the selection of the estates according to the income levels.
Table 3.1: A table showing the sampled estates in Kisii town
Low Income Residential
Estates
Middle Income Residential
Estates
High Income Residential
Estates
« Mwembe Menyinkwa Campus Milimani
Daraja Mbili « Jogoo Nyamataro
Bonubi Gekomu Omosocho « Nyanchwa
Bochura Getare Egesa Gensonso
« Sampled Estates
Different number of households were systematically selected after a Kth household has been
randomly selected based on each estate’s total number of households according to the county
statistics which were provided by the county and town administration statistics department.
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
Figure 3.1: A map showing the sampled estates.
Figure 3: Map of Kisii Municipality showing the three sampled Estates (KMC, 2010)
Sampling procedure
The sampling procedure used by the researcher largely depended on the research design.
Whereby, questionnaires were issued to the residents in the identified areas and estates, also
interviews targeted Kisii county staff as in depth informants.
The sample size was 110. This was calculated according to Yamane’s formula
n = N/1+N (e) 2,
Where n- is the required sample size
N- is the population size
e- is the error margin
In this case N was 1700 and e was 0.09
Hence n= 1700/ 1+1700(0.09)2 n= 110
The sample size of 110 made up 6.5% of the households of the sampled estates.
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Table 3:2: A table showing the sampling procedure of the questionnaires used
Estate Class Estate Name Target household population Sample size
LIR Mwembe 800 *0.65 52
MIR Jogoo 600*0.65 39
HIR Nyanchwa 300*0.65 19
TOTAL 1700*0.65 110
Methods of data collection
Both primary and secondary data collection methods were employed for the research study.
Primary methods of data collection used involved the collection of raw data from the field.
Questionnaires, interviews, measurement, use of photographs and direct observation were
used.
The use of multiple techniques was aimed at ensuring that accurate and reliable data was
collected. Since the major consideration in the research was to obtain data; that would allow
accurate descriptions of situations or relationships between certain variables, information
adequacy and efficiency is required. (Busha and Harter, 1990). Therefore, reliance on multiple
data techniques usually provides better results.
Questionnaires were the preferred data collection tool since they gave firsthand, comparable,
reliable and accurate data for one to achieve the research objectives, research questions and
the research hypotheses (Babbie, 2004).. A questionnaire covering a wide range of issues on
household solid waste management was administered to man or woman of the house
depending on their availability at household level as shown; in appendix I, and another to the
county/ municipal authorities as shown in appendix II.
Data Analysis
After data had been collected, the raw data was systematically organized through coding to
facilitate analysis. This was done by converting data to numerical codes representing attributed
or measurements of variables. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used
(descriptive statistics and tables) as an analytical tool to produce the result required for the
interpretation. However, some data obtained from interview schedules, observation and
photographs were presented directly. Various inferences were made from the analysis for the
purposes of verifying and testing to confirm the research question.
In analyzing the data, descriptive were employed, where tables were used to summarize the
scores of variables of solid waste generated in the varied residential estates, percentages were
also used to gauge the proportions of waste generated and the responses given.
Methods of data presentation
The data was presented using tables, figures, photographs and calculated percentages. Also,
explanations of the study finding were made so as to make valid conclusions.
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Adequacy of the Available Management Systems of Handling DSW
Storage
The results from the questionnaires indicated that DSW is stored in self- purchased polythene
bags, self- purchased bins, plot provided bins and county provided bins. It was noted that the
self- purchased polythene bags and bins make a large percentage in storage of DSW. The results
also indicate that the county’s distribution of bins is inadequate in all the estates with the lowest
percentages. The table below shows the percentages of the storage methods available in the
estates.
Table 4.1: A table showing the methods of storage of DSW in the estates
Methods of storage of DSW in
Estates
Estates
LIR (%) MIR (%) HIR (%)
Self- purchased polythene bags 53.3 46.7 52.4
Self- purchased bins 33.3 40.0 37.6
Plot provided bins 10.1 0.0 3.3
County provided bins 3.3 13.3 6.7
TOTAL % 100 100 100
It was also, noted that in Kisii town unlike other towns the MIR areas suffer most in terms of
provision of bins/skips by the county. The bins provided in MIR are few such that DSW is
collected in open spaces and at roadsides as indicated by the plate 4.11 below.
Plate 4.11: DSW stored/dumped by the roadside at Jogoo
The photograph above is a clear indication of inadequacy of storage materials provided by the
county. This results to indiscriminate waste storage/dumping leading to bad odors, sight sore
and environmental degradation.
Further, the results indicated that unlike HIR and LIR where the county provided bins/skips
are large of 8 tonnes in MIR the skips are small of 4 tonnes hence inadequate considering the
generation of DSW as shown by plate 4.12 below.
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Plate 4.12: A 4 Tonnes skip at Jogoo
This disparity in allocation of adequate bins/skips may be attributed to inadequate mapping by
the county management to establish places of need.
Collection
In collection of the DSW from the estates, the questionnaire responses indicated that: the
collection was irregular not daily as expected to be as shown in table 4.2 below.
Table 4.2: A table showing the % of collection of DSW in the estates
Collection of DSW Rates in
Estates
LIR MIR HIR
Daily 1.3 2.7 30.0
1- 3 days 58.7 39.3 46.6
4 – 6 days 26.7 51.3 20.7
Over a week 3.3 13.3 6.7
TOTAL % 100 100 100
Also, the responses eluded that in all estates the waste was collected after a week. This poses a
health hazard to the residents. The results further showed that waste is mainly collected 2 – 6
days after it has been disposed by the residents in various estates. However, it was noted that
collection was more frequent in high income residential areas unlike other estates and the
middle income resident estates suffered more uncollected waste for long times.The results
deduced from the table indicate a disparity in collection of DSW in the various estates and show
the inadequacies of the methods employed in the management of waste in Kisii town. The plate
4.13 below shows uncollected in MIR for a period of 6 days.
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
Plate 4.13: Uncollected DSW along the road at Jogoo
This implies that the DSW is collected more regularly in the affluent estates followed by the
least affluent due to its high rate of generation as observed above and the middle class residents
suffer the effects of the uncollected DSW. It was noted that in Kisii town like in other towns
collection is more effective in affluent estates than the less affluent estates. Quite unique to Kisii
town collection in MIR is poor than in LIR. This is attributed to the county focusing on reducing
the effects of DSW in LIR such as disease outbreaks for example cholera which is commonly
associated with LIR areas; thus ignoring the need for regular collection in MIR. This shows
enormous disparity considering the population of the varied estates.
Transportation
In transportation of DSW, the results indicated that transportation is carried out in all the three
estates that were sampled due to their proximity to the town and to the dumping site. Therefore
the 80% of HIR, 100% of MIR and 100% LIR in Kisii town experience the same method of DSW
collection; except 20% of the residents of Nyanchwa who through their landlords have
organized self -transport by hiring people with hand pulled carts (mkokoteni) transport the
DSW to either the common tractor collection points or even to the common dumping site at
Nyambera.
This indicates that transportation of DSW is good in the county unlike storage and collection.
The transportation is 100% in both MIR and LIR except in the HIR where transportation by the
county is 80%. This is an indication of good management. Though the inadequacy noted is the
openness of the tractor transport which drops litter along its trail also bad odor whenever it
crosses a given area. Further, the number of tractors and compacters/ lorries used by the
county is small and there is need to increase their numbers so that they can reach all estates
daily.
Disposal
In disposal of DSW the results indicated that in LIR/ Mwembe estate, 98.6% of the residents
collect their DSW and dispose it to the nearby county provided bins. In areas where the county
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bins are far the residents dispose their DSW in personal polythene bags which are placed at
night by the roadside to be collected by the county personnel into the county provided bins
during the next day. The results from questionnaires show that, 1.4% of Mwembe estate
residents dispose their wastes by the use of personal polythene bags which are later collected
by the county government for disposal.
In MIR/Jogoo, 93.3% of the residents dispose their DSW in the county designated areas whether
there are county bins or not, these specified places are the official collection sites of the county.
However, due to inadequacy of bins, several disposal centres for the residents have cropped up.
Up to 5.3% dispose their waste using personal polythene bags which they place by the roadside
at night to be collected later by the county government. A paltry 1.4% of the residents of Jogoo
dispose their DSW in home dug pits within the residential areas depending on the landlord
organization. This method though is inadequate since these home dug pits get overfilled within
a short time leading to unhygienic conditions in the estate.
In HIR/Nyanchwa, 83.3% of the residents dispose their wastes in personal provided bins. The
wastes in this estate are disposed in a large wheeled bin within the estate provided by the
landlord. The caretaker or a person is assigned by the landlord empties these bins to the county
provided bins or sometimes transport them directly to the county dumpsite. This has led to
reduced overdependence on the county provided bins for the disposal of DSW in this estate.
However, 16.7% of the residents especially those who are near the county provided bins,
dispose their DSW there. The landlords resorting to using self- purchased bins proves that the
county provided bins in Nyanchwa are inadequate.
In disposal of DSW at the Nyambera dumping site it was noted that the dumpsite is overfilled,
invaded by scavengers and private developers who are constructing thus reducing the size of
the dumpsite as shown on plate 4.14 below. Also, the location of the dumpsite in the CBD is a
challenge in occupying important space for meaningful infrastructural development in the
town bearing in mind that the town is located in a highly populous region with minimal space
and adverse land fragmentation. Also, the dumpsite has provided adverse effects to the nearby
level six/ county referral hospital and the road alongside the dumpsite.
Plate 4.14: A section of Nyambera dumpsite under construction and scavenging birds
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
The following factors according to the interviews were identified to be leading to solid waste
management problems in Kisii town: inadequate qualified personnel, poor coordination by the
county government officials, lack of adequate equipment evidenced by two tractors (only one
in good condition), two compacters and two lorries to serve the whole town, inadequate
disposal site since the Nyambera site has been overfilled and the newly acquired Etora
dumpsite has not been put into use, as shown on appendix I.
Lack of initiative by the county to provide sensitization/create public awareness to educate the
residents on proper waste management policies/methods, laziness of the workers who don’t
do their work effectively such as leaving behind some waste during collection, wastes falling off
while being transported, irregular collection of the waste among others, a rapidly increasing
population in the town thus increasing the generation of DSW, and rapid expansion of the town
have all led to development of new estates whose wastes management has not been captured
by the county administration, as depicted in appendix I.
Data form the questionnaires indicated that, the residents feel that the disposal methods
employed by the county government are not good for the town and the following alternatives
were suggested by questionnaire respodents for the improvement of the waste management
systems in Kisii town. These alternatives include: the need to recycle waste, separation of
wastes at generation, re-using some of the wastes, separation of wastes during disposal,
incineration to generate energy and burn more waste completely, use of landfills due to scarcity
of land to be used as dumpsites, avoid burning since it pollutes the environment, dumping the
waste away from town and far from homesteads/public places, decomposing of biodegradable
wastes to make manure, aquatic food, make fertilizers and make biomass energy.
Summary
The storage systems available are inadequate since an average of 80.6% of the residents in HIR,
MIR and LIR store their DSW in self- purchased bins and polythene bags whereas, a paltry
19.4% store their DSW in county provided bins and skips. Therefore, there is need for provision
of more storage materials (bins and skips) for the wastes generated in households.
The collection methods also proved inadequate due to irregularities in estates such as Mwembe
(LIR) and Jogoo (MIR) as opposed to Nyanchwa (HIR), where the collection was regular. There
is need for intensified and regular collection in all estates indiscriminately. This should be done
daily to enhance clean and safe estates for residence.
Transportation methods involved by the county are good though limited to the use of two
compacters, use of county tractors and limited use of hand pulled carts (mkokoteni). This
methods can be improved since the tractors are uncovered resulting to dropping the DSW along
their trail and bad odors in the town whenever they crisss-cross the town. The compacters are
few hence need to increase their numbers. The use of hand pulled carts is only limited to HIR
due to a few private organizations. Therefore, there is need to encourage and involve more
private groups and CBOs.
Disposal of DSW is done at two levels: at the households and beyond the estate. At the
households residents dispose their wastes in three ways: disposing in bins/skips/self- purchased bins and polythene bags, also by burning and disposing in estate dug pits. Beyond
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the estate disposal is done by the county dumping the DSW in the Nyambera dumpsite located
in the CBD.
The figure 5.1 below is a suggested model on adequate measures/systems of managing DSW in
urban areas. Whereby resources are purchased for use then they become waste after use.
Segregation should be done at the households (source) before they are disposed in various bins
at estates collection points. The DSW should be collected by county, CBOs and private groups
and transported to relevant places depending on the type of waste such that re-usables are
transported to cleaning agents, recyclables to recycling plants, organic to composting pits,
combustibles to incinerators to generate energy for recycling plants and the non-combustibles
to land-fills.
Figure 5.1: Suggested Model for DSWM
Own Source 2017
Conclusion
In conclusion, the management methods of the DSW are inadequate and pose severe health
risks to the residents of Kisii. It was noted that the methods of storage of DSW does not match
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Naftal, M. O. (2021). An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Methods Of Domestic Solid Waste Management in Kisii Town, Kenya. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 157-180.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
the extensive generation rates, the collection cycles in the estates is inefficient, transportation
measures put in place by the county government are not adequate and the disposal methods
employed are also ineffective for the residents. Therefore, there is a dire need of an integrated
DSW management plan in the town.
Recommendations
These management systems of handling DSW are inadequate hence the following
recommendations are necessary. The study noted that the available management systems of
handling DSW that is storage, collection, transportation and deposition are inadequate.
Therefore it is recommended that one: the county government should provide adequate bins
and skips for the storage of DSW before it is collected and transported.
The county government should purchase more compacters and covered tractors/trailers to
ensure effective collection and transportation of the DSW in the town without affecting other
not involved persons through bad odor. Also, in transportation, more trips per day should be
enhanced to enable wider reach of all areas of the town and for effective collection of the waste
from the residential areas. Further, the private group/s also need to be encouraged and
strengthened in partnership with the county management in transporting DSW for effective
management.
Also, the county government should embrace proper disposal methods which are
environmentally friendly and avoid burning and dumping of the DSW. They should use and
incorporate re- use by establishing sterilization/ cleaning plants and re-packaging centres for
water bottles.
The county government through the environmental department should increase the personnel
especially the collectors of garbage and provide them with protective equipment for handling
various types of wastes. The personnel should further undergo necessary training to equip
them with the skills for the job. Also, there is need to incorporate private organizations and
CBOs in the collection for effective and more frequent collection.
In addition, the environmental department should encourage and work with private groups/
CBOs and individuals involved in DSWM practices in the town. This will help in reaching all
parts of the town especially where the roads are impassable to tractors and compacters.
Further, it is recommended that recycling centres/plants should be established to put into use
used bottles, polythene papers, tins, glass and other wastes so as to reduce their bulk in the
town. Digesters and compost pits should be developed to utilize organic wastes such as food
remains to make organic manure to be sold and used in farms. Digesters should also be used to
generate biomass energy which can be used to provide energy for small scale use. Incineration
plants should also be established to burn combustibles and energy generated to be used in
recycling plants to enhance sustenance of the plant and provide cheap energy source.
Finally, it is recommended that the county government should purpose to increase the
budgetary allocation to the environmental department from 5% to enhance the efficient
running of the department.
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APPENDIX I: SLIDES 1 – 7 OF COUNTY STAFF RESPONSES
Slide 1
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Slide 3
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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
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Slide 5
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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10423
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Slide 7