WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN KENYA.

Published On: 10th October, 2023

By: Khalif Barkhadle
DIGITAL JOURNALIST.

Overview of the current current waste management in our cities, urban areas and market centres in Kenya.

Kenya has a growing human population and an increase in urbanization. The urban centre
has attracted a large population of informal settlements, dwellers, and the middle class. This
urbanization and increased affluence have led to increased waste generation and complexity of
the waste streams. This trend is compounded by the growing industrialization of the Kenyan
economy. Despite the existence of laws and policies guiding waste management, weak
implementation and poor practices have led to towns and cities being overwhelmed by their
waste, consequently affecting public health and the environment.
Over the years, waste management has been the mandate of the local authorities. However,
most local authorities did not prioritize the establishment of proper waste management systems
and hence allocated meagre resources for its management. Further, the councils lacked
technical and institutional capacities to manage waste. This has led to the current poor state of
waste management, which includes indiscriminate dumping, uncollected waste, and a lack of
waste segregation across the country.