Kachok Dumpsite and Its Challenges

A Section of Kachok Dumpsite, Kisumu

The existing state of Kachok dumpsite is an indication of the present solid waste management problem in Kisumu. The dumpsite that measures approximately 3 acres is surrounded by a stadium, a supermarket, a hotel, schools, and estates. With the 400 tons of waste that Kisumu city generates per day, only 80 tons (20%) get delivered to the dumpsite. The waste generation of the city expands at 6-12% annually. As 60-65% of the wastes are organic in character, 10.2% constitute plastic wastes. Solid Waste Management is one of the development challenges facing the County Government and residents of Kisumu. Even though previous attempts to resolve the nuisance have failed, the county government is currently putting structures in place to resolve the matter.
The solid waste problem in the city has been propelled by illegal dumping, ineffective laws on littering, failure garbage management (collection, transportation, recovery, and disposal) systems, as well as low public awareness. Since most (80%) of the solid wastes in Kisumu remain uncollected, the wastes have resulted into blocked sewers, the spread of infectious diseases, pollution of Lake Victoria, and litter in the streets. These wastes have also resulted in a great air and water pollution. As litters and dust get blown away by the wind, smoke from burning and odors fill the air. When it rains the leachate and even some waste get washed to the Lake Victoria. The dumpsite also offers a good breeding ground for pests such as rats.
Challenges
The solid waste management problem is not only limited to Kisumu, it is a problem affecting nearly all urban areas in Kenya. The present waste management Kenya has been compounded by increased urbanization. Urbanization and industrialization have increased waste generation and made the waste streams complex. Even though laws and policies on waste management exist, poor implementation and weak practices have made several towns being chocked by their own waste thus impacting the environment and public health. The previous local authorities that were mandated to manage these waste failed to prioritize the institution of appropriate waste management and this led to meager resource allocation. Also, the councils were short of technical and institutional capacities in waste management.
Just like other towns, waste management in Kisumu faces a number of challenges such as inefficient waste management systems, inadequate technical and financial resources, limited knowledge, poor attitude and practices, and lack of political will. With limited awareness and knowledge of the benefit of a clean and healthy environment, most residents have poor practices in relation to waste management that has led to littering, illegal dumping as well as open burning. Politics and waste management appear to go hand in hand. Political goodwill is essential for the success of good waste management. Regrettably, the inadequate prioritization of waste management agenda has lead to pitiable investments and funding. This has therefore hampered waste management cycle from the collection, transportation, and disposal.
Even though the county governments are mandated to allocate waste disposal sites or facilities in their areas of jurisdiction, the availability of land for such purposes still remains a challenge. Communities have been seen opposing the relocation of Kachok dumpsite to their backyard majorly because of poor management of the current sites. Consequently, many dumpsites have been sited in environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, river banks, and forests. High poverty level witnessed in informal like Manyatta, Obunga, and Nyalenda have hindered the residents to pay for waste management services.  These areas also inaccessible and usually lack waste management infrastructure. Inadequate technical skill in waste management has seen waste management facilities poorly managed and failed to operate at optimal capacities
Cumulatively, the current waste management being witnessed in major towns is in a poor state. According to NEMA 2014 report, most Kenyan town and cities have ineffective waste collection and disposal systems. As Nairobi only collects about 80% of the 2,400 tons of waste generated daily, Nakuru only collects 45% of the 400 tons of waste generated per day. Mombasa only collects about 65% of the 2,200 tons and Eldoret collects only 55% of the 600 tons of waste generated daily. In Kisumu, only about 20% of the 400 tons of waste generated daily is collected. This leaves Kisumu as the major town with the least effort to manage its waste.
Way Forward and Opportunities
As waste materials are linked to economic development, they represent wasted money in their original cost, disposal, and potential value when recycled and reused. As a result, the County Government has adopted the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management policy as a way of achieving better and more sustainable solutions to the problem that has existed for a long time. Even though the decommissioning plans of Kachok dumpsite are underway, getting a suitable relocation area has also been a challenge due to considerations such as surface and groundwater, public health, soil structure, cultural asset, services and utilities, community resistance as well as bird hazard.
There is a need for new management approaches such as adopting new technology, social attitude change, viewing waste as an economic resource, and adopting a conducive legal framework. As the new technology will help in water disposal, social attitude change will focus on waste minimization and even sorting at source. Through reuses and recycling, waste is a good economic resource. There is a need to rethink and revise the existing laws with the aim of encouraging partnerships with private sectors. There is also need to involve external development partners and investors that can pump in additional financial resources toward effective waste management.
There is a need to encourage social and environmental entrepreneurs to step up and assist in the management of such wastes like in the recently held Taka Taka Challenge. The Taka Taka Challenge organized by the Social Business Incubator (SBI) has indicated that waste management is a problem in Kisumu and the residence can use waste to create wealth economically. The challenge saw the first prize winner, Continental Renewable Energy Co, getting financed to recycle plastic waters into building materials such as fencing posts, roofing tiles, and manhole covers. The second prize winner, Taka Feed Moto, received finance to use organic waste to make fuel briquettes, animal feeds, scrapped biogas, and manure. The third prize winner, IPWA Taka Park, got financed to create a central waste sorting, bailing, bulking, and storage center. Even though the management of solid waste is still a great challenge, there are still opportunities.