Factors influencing the management of solid waste disposal in Kerugoya Town, Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Abstract

Solid waste management constitutes a serious problem in many third world cities. Most cities do not collect the totality of wastes generated, and of the wastes collected, only a fraction receives proper disposal. The insufficient collection and in appropriate disposal of solid wastes represent a source of water, land and air pollution, and pose risks of human health and the environment. In early days people did not face such big problems of disposal because of availability of space and natural materials but nowaday's congestion in cities and use of non-biodegradable materials in our day life create many problems.

Proper management of solid waste has become unavoidable. Waste management is therefore the collection, transportation processing or disposal, managing and monitoring of waste materials. Litter problem which is apparent in most Kenyan urban centres, plastic waste particularly polythene bags are causing an increasing number of environmental and health problems.

The objectives of study sought to:Establish the influence of site availability on management of waste disposal in Kerugoya town, To assess the extent to which governance influences the management of solid waste disposal in Kerugoya town, To establish the influence of finance on management of solid waste disposal in Kerugoya town, To establish the influence the modem technology had in management of solid waste disposal in Kerugoya town. The research gap that the municipality needed to be addressed was to investigate ways by which health problems such as malaria and diseases related to respiratory organs could be reduced within the town dwellers in relation to the proper waste management.

The study highlighted the relationship between governance and management of solid waste disposal. The study showed that modem technology need to be embraced in order to bring change within the municipality as far as management of solid waste disposal was concerned.