Waste Management in Kenya: Systems, Stakeholders, and Strategies

This assignment examines waste management practices in Kenya, focusing on the primary systems in place, the roles of key stakeholders, and strategies for improvement. It highlights the challenges faced by local authorities in establishing effective waste management systems, including inefficient waste collection and disposal methods. The analysis identifies stakeholders such as the Ministry of Environment, NEMA, civil society organizations, the private sector, the National Treasury, and individual citizens, outlining their respective roles in waste management. The assignment proposes strategies to enhance waste management practices in Kenya, including increasing public knowledge and awareness, providing more accessible waste disposal facilities, and enforcing stricter regulations on waste management practices. References to various sources are provided to support the analysis and recommendations.

Question 1 (15 points): For your chosen country, please describe the primary waste
management systems in place. How is solid waste handled, and what are the current
policies? (Your response should have a minimum of 4 sentences and maximum of 6
sentences.)
Waste management in Kenya is mandated to the local authorities. However, the local authorities
have proven to lack sufficient capacity and the know how to establish proper waste management
systems. In Kenya, there is inefficient waste collection and disposal systems (Munala &
Moirongo, 2017). This is reflected as nearly half of the population is not served by waste
collection services (Munala & Moirongo, 2017). In other areas, waste collected is transferred to
an open dumpsite or otherwise burnt publicly. Transportation of waste takes the form of use of
open trucks and hand carts which have also contributed to further littering of the environment
(Munala & Moirongo, 2017)
Waste is generated across the household, market, towns, cities, industrial zones and institutions.
There is limited household waste segregation in all those areas. Informal groups are often tasked
with the collection and recovery of recyclable waste (Njoroge, Kimani & Ndunge, 2014).
Though most of the waste is collected by the county government, there are private companies
which operate in residential areas at a fee. In the low income and informal settlements high
reliance is on the citizens and the civil society and NGO community for collection of waste
(Njoroge, Kimani & Ndunge, 2014). NEMA issues licenses to the firms and individuals that
transport waste however a majority do not follow the rules accorded to them (Njoroge, Kimani &
Ndunge, 2014). NEMA stands for National Environment Management Authority (Njoroge,
Kimani & Ndunge, 2014). Waste treatment are still underdeveloped and have not achieved
optimal operations. Workers who man these facilities do not have proper training on how to
manage them well (Kirama & Mayo, 2016).
Question 2 (15 points): For your chosen country, try to identify who are the “recognized”
stakeholders (or who you think they are, if this is not clear). What is their role in waste
management? (Your response should have a minimum of 4 sentences and maximum of 6
sentences.)
 In Kenya one if the stakeholders is the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural
Resources whose work is to give policy direction on solid waste management initiatives
of the entire country (Njoroge, Kimani & Ndunge, 2014)
 The other stakeholder is NEMA whose function is to formulate policies and legislations
in order to achieve a sustainable level of waste management as well as dissemination of
information on the regulatory requirements of proper waste management to the public
(Nigatu, Haregu, Mberu, & Ziraba, 2016)
 The civil society and the NGOs also have a role to play in supporting solid waste
management initiatives in the country and advocate for the rights of the country’s citizens
in receiving proper waste management services (Nigatu, Haregu, Mberu, & Ziraba, 2016)

 The private sector has a role in the development of effective and efficient waste
management facilities in their premises as well as an undertaking of corporate social
responsibility on waste management solutions (Njoroge, Kimani & Ndunge, 2014
 It is the role of the National treasury to provide adequate funding to the government
agencies involved in the development and promotion of waste management initiatives
(Njoroge, Kimani & Ndunge, 2014)
 It is the role of the citizens to have proper attitudes when it comes to waste management
for instance not littering just because someone else will clean it up and be focused on
finding solutions to the same (United Nations Publications, 2015).
Question 3 (20 points): Provide at least 2 strategies to help improve current waste
management practices in your selected country. (Each response will count for 10 points and
each should have a minimum of 3 sentences and maximum of 4 sentences.)
One way of improving waste management practices in Kenya is increase of knowledge and
awareness. There is importance to educate the public on a clean and healthy environment this is
able to enable the citizens to have a conscious approach to waste management and reduce
practices such as littering and illegal dumping (Kirama & Mayo, 2016).
Another strategy is increasing the number of dustbins available to the public. One of the
challenges of waste management in Kenya is that the public lack sufficient places to dump their
litter leading them to throw them on the ground (Kirama & Mayo, 2016).. The country
government should increase the availability of dustbins available to the public (Nigat & Ziraba,
2016)
Another strategy includes the regulatory bodies NEMA and the county government undertaking
punitive measures on individuals and firms who do not follow the regulation (Kirama & Mayo,
2016).. Because of enforcement of the law less people will be inclined to have poor waste
management practices (Kirama & Mayo, 2016).. High fines and penalties should be imposed on
individuals who do not follow the law (Blackman, 2016).
References
Blackman Jr, W. C. (2016). Basic hazardous waste management. Crc Press.
Kirama, A., & Mayo, A. W. (2016). Challenges and prospects of private sector participation in
solid waste management in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Habitat International, 53, 195-205.
Munala G., & Moirongo, B. O. (2017). The need for an integrated solid waste management in
Kisumu, Kenya.
Mwangi, H. M., Sira, F. N., & Kaluli, W. (2017). Sustainable solid waste management strategies
in Juja, Kenya.
Nigatu, T., Haregu, B., Mberu, A., & Ziraba, K. (2016). Evolution of Solid Waste Management
Policy Landscape in Kenya: Analysis of evolvement of policy priorities and strategies.

Njoroge, B. N. K., Kimani, M., & Ndunge, D. (2014). Review of municipal solid waste
management: A case study of Nairobi, Kenya. International Journal of Engineering and
Science, 4(2), 16-20.
United Nations Publications (Ed.). (2015). Guidelines for national waste management
strategies: Moving from challenges to opportunities. UN.