Solid Waste Management and Risks to Health in Urban Africa: A Study of Nairobi and Mombasa Cities in Kenya
Urban Africa Risk Knowlegde
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Abstract: This report documents household characteristics, solid waste management (SWM) and the associated risks to health in two cities in Kenya. The study was conducted in the communities of Korogocho/Dandora, Saika and Makadara in Nairobi, and Bamburi and Kisauni in Mombasa. Korogocho/Dandora are slum and low income locations primarily bordering the main municipal dumpsite (Dandora); Saika is located farther from the dumpsite but exposed to SWM-related secondary hazards such as pollution and fooding; Makadara is a non-slum comparison study site. In Mombasa, the study sites were Mwakirunge in Bamburi location that is the proximal community to the city?s dumpsite, and Bombolulu, a non-slum settlement in Kisauni location, which is prone to fooding. The selection of the communities was informed by the need to examine the commonalities and differences as well as the magnitude of perceived risks vis-à-vis SWM practices in the respective locations. Having a clear understanding of the issues in each of the locations is important for informing context-specifc policies and programmes aimed at mitigating risks associated with SWM in the respective communities. There was, however, no clear distinction between slum and non-slum communities in Mombasa. In particular, Mwakirunge settlement has a sparse population that is made up of small-scale farmers. Bamburi itself is a large area with a mixture of middle class and gated communities about 15 kilometres away from the dumpsite. Kisauni location also has a mixture of slum and non-slum settlements that are both exposed to garbage heaps/temporary dumpsites created by waste collectors and residents besides being prone to fooding.