Assessment Of Household Solid Waste Management In Makina Informal Settlements, Nairobi Kenya

The purpose of this study was to assess the household management of domestic solid waste in the Makina area informal settlements, Kibera division of Nairobi city. This is because of the increasing sites of unattended solid wastes in its public places. The objectives of the study were: To establish the types of domestic solid waste generated in Makina area; to evaluate the effectiveness of the solid waste management at the household level and to examine the role-played by stakeholders in domestic solid waste management in Makina area. The study adopted Quasi-experimental design (one shot case study) since the subjects sampled were not randomly assigned to groups but were all relevant cases in the study. The researcher used simple random sampling in selecting the desired sample of 200 households; the study also used purposive sampling method in identifying key informants with relevant information such as the Self-help Groups, the Nairobi City Council staff and other stakeholders involved in the management of the household wastes. Being a survey research, in collecting the primary data, the researcher designed and administered 200 household questionnaires to the randomly selected Makina residents as well as interview schedules that were used to collect the data from the snow-balled key informants. Four FGDs were also conducted in the four corners of the Makina area as well as observation that was done through transects walks with an aim of gathering more information that did not require interview. The secondary data was obtained from the previous documented information on Solid waste management, and informal settlements. The data collected was qualitative and quantitative in nature. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the data analysis. The results indicated that plastic and container ranks are the most generated DSW.