Factors influencing solid waste management in Kisii Municipal Council, Kenya

Abstract

This study was set out to investigate factors influencing effective solid waste management (SWM) in Kisii municipal council (KMC) and hence come up with improvement strategies so as to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Indicators in the public domain showed that the situation of solid waste management in the municipality needs urgent attention and therefore the need for the study.

The specific objectives of the study were: To investigate whether financial resources influence effective Solid Waste Management in Kisii Municipal council; To investigate whether the level of relevant solid waste management skills and knowledge influence effective SWM in Kisii municipal council; To investigate whether social! cultural factors influence effective solid waste management in Kisii municipal council; To investigate whether solid waste collection schedules influence effective solid waste management; and To investigate whether physical infrastructure in Kisii municipal council affects effective management of solid waste.

The research was conceptualized by both independent and dependent variables. The independent variables include financial resources, SWM skills/knowledge, social! cultural factors, physical infrastructure and solid waste collection schedules factors. The dependant factor is effective solid waste management. Reliability and validity were measured to answer research questions.

In the study, a descriptive survey research design was used. The target population was the registered voters as per the interim independent electoral commission of Kenya records in Kisii municipality. The researcher used published tables to reach a sample size of 110. Stratified sampling, random and purposive sampling respectively were used to arrive at the accessible population. Data collection methods included questionnaires, interviews and observations.

The questionnaire was pre-tested among twenty sampled respondents in the municipality. The collected data was cleaned and coded to enhance manageability before analysis was undertaken. Data pertaining to the profile of respondents was analyzed by employing content analysis. The researcher used SPSS version 11.5 to generate percentages and frequencies.

The findings were based on the research's five objectives. They include: financial resources are not adequate, competency level of municipal council employees is low and their recruitment not transparent, education has played a significant role in shaping peoples attitude towards waste management, the physical infrastructure for effective solid waste management in the municipality is not adequate and that solid waste collection is irregular.

In conclusion the research found out that financial resource, level of skills of staff and knowledge of public, culture, physical infrastructure and waste collection schedules influence effective solid waste management in kisii municipal council. The study recommends that financial resources for solid waste management be increased, workers' skills be enhanced, education be intensified, physical infrastructure be improved and waste collection be regularized. Further research should be done in plastic waste and alternative technologies.