Factors Influencing Implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy: a Case of Kamenu, Thika Sub-county, Kiambu County.

Abstract

This research project is on factors influencing the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy: A case of Kamenu Sub location, Thika Sub County, Kiambu County. This strategy had not yet been implemented and four objectives were developed as the basis of the research. These objectives were solid waste collection methods at households, knowledge level on SWM by households, public participation in SWM and resource capital in SWM. Based on the objectives, four research questions were developed and in addition a conceptual framework and a theoretical framework outlined. This research project adopted a descriptive survey research design. This enabled the researcher describe the relationship between the variables identified in the conceptual framework. The target population were households in Kamenu Sub location, staff in the ministry of Environment and the duly licenced private solid waste collectors in Thika Sub County in Kiambu County. The sampling procedure used was stratified random sampling, simple random sampling while a questionnaire was used as the main data collection instrument. The study analysed 300 questionnaires which represented an 80% return rate and a gender distribution of 41.0% and 59.0% male and female gender respectively. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used in data analysis. The highest solid waste collection at households was observed to be done by licenced private companies who collected 61.8% of the solid waste. The county government account for 24.1% of collection and the rest of the solid waste being indiscriminately dumped and by use of skips. Household knowledge levels on solid waste reduction awareness and on solid waste segregation awareness were observed to be at 41.4% and 41.9% respectively. Education level on awareness levels in solid waste reduction and solid waste segregation had strong significant positive correlation coefficients of 0.965 and 0.952 respectively. There was high indication of households’ need to be trained in solid waste management and the formation of residential solid waste committees. Households’ response rates were at 88.9% and 95.8% in agreement for training need in SWM and formation of residential sold waste committee respectively. Age and monthly incomes had strong significant positive correlation coefficients of 0.998 and 0.990 respectively on need to have residential solid waste management committees. In addition, there was a 59.0% support for the youths to be involved in solid waste management. On resource capacity in solid waste management, the households responded with a 52.8%, 48.2% and 46.6% in agreement that equipment, staff and funding respectively, were adequate. This research project has identified that factors such as SWM knowledge levels at household and public participation in SWM have a significant influence on the implementation of NSWMS. The research project recommends that the county government and agencies involved in solid waste management could develop programs for training and involvement of households and the public in issues of solid waste management to increase their awareness and involvement.