Modernising solid waste management at municipal level: Institutional arrangements in urban centres of East Africa

175 Pages·2011·1.85 MB·English

by  Christine Majale Liyala

Modernising solid waste
management at municipal
level
Institutional arrangements
in urban centres of East Africa
Christine Majale Liyala
Environmental Policy
Series
Volume 3
Modernising solid waste
management at municipal level

Modernising solid waste
management at municipal level
Institutional arrangements in urban centres of East Africa
Christine Majale Liyala

Modernising solid waste management at municipal level 7
Preface
The task of municipal problem solving has become a team sport that has spilled beyond the borders
of government agencies and now engages a far more extensive network of social actors - public as
well as private, non-profit and profit. Solid waste management is one of the key tasks associated
with municipal authorities. It is of particular interest because of its flexibility compared to other
services at the municipal level. This means the number of options for addressing solid waste
management at municipal level are considered many.
The Lake Victoria Basin allows a comparison of institutions and practices in the different urban
centres that are found in the basin. The ultimate aim has been to advance plausible options for
institutional arrangement to improve solid waste management at the benefit of the urban poor
in the Lake Basin in East Africa.
This dissertation is the result of five years of research work done under the PROVIDE project
(working on sustainable urban infrastructures in cities of the Lake Victoria Basin, East Africa)
with funding from INREF.
I extend my sincere gratitude to my promoter Professor Gert Spaargaren and my co promoter
Dr. Peter Oosterveer who have patiently guided me during the research process, providing me
with feedback and comments. I thank Dr. Caleb Mireri who also took part in assisting me to
shape the research.
My gratitude goes to the other staff of the Environmental Policy Group for their assistance and
guidance at various stages and levels. Prof. Arthur Mol, Dr. Bas van Vliet and Dr. Szanto Gabor
for all the logistical support and guidance, Loes Maas from the Methodology group for her tireless
assistance in shaping the methodology of the study, thank you!,
Thanks to Corry Rothuizen for her administrative and logistic arrangements and support
during the whole time I was at Wageningen University and even when back home in Kenya.
Thank you!
I also thank the PROVIDE group: Aisa Solomon, Judith Tukahirwa, Sammy Letema, Fred
Owegi, Meshack Katusiimeh, Richard Oyoo, Fredrick Salukele and Tobias Bigambo. You are an
amazing team. Not forgetting the following: Dorien Korbee, Hilde Toonen, Judith van Leeuwen
Elizabeth Sargant, Leah Ombis, Harry Dabban, Eira Carballos, Carolina Marciel, Sarah Stattman
Kanang Kantamaturapoj, Judith Floor, Vijge Marjanneke and Jennifer Lenhart for their company
and assistance. I thank Dorien Korbee and Hilde Toonen for translating the English summary
into Dutch in a short notice.
Next, I must thank my parents, Wycliffe and Eunice Majale. You have provided encouragement
in my academic pursuits. You have also helped make this possible by being there to do whatever
needed to be done, especially taking over the parental duties of looking after Benaya. Mum
Philgonna Mulamba, you have also have also been a source of support and help for which I am
grateful. Thank you for being there and for the encouragement you have provided along the way.
To the rest of the family, thank you!
I thank my dear husband and best friend, Reuben. There are not adequate words to describe
the support you have provided. There would have been no way this accomplishment would have
been possible without your unwavering encouragement, love and commitment. We share this
8 Modernising solid waste management at municipal level
degree as we share everything else in the life we have built together. This life now includes our
son, Benaya, who provided a new motivation to finish this dissertation. Benaya, you are a source
of inspiration and awe in my life and this degree is shared with you as well.
I would also like to thank my contact persons and interview participants for the access each
of you granted me into your experiences in Kisumu, Jinja, Mwanza, Kisii, Homabay and Migori.
Hopefully, it will start a dialogue and spark future studies that will inform the theoretical debate
surrounding governance in municipal service provision in East Africa.
Last and most importantly, I must thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For, I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me - Philippians 4:13.
Modernising solid waste management at municipal level 9
Table of contents
Preface 7
Abbreviations 13
Chapter 1.
Introduction 15
1.1 Urban authorities and solid waste management 15
1.2 Trends in SWM infrastructure provision in East Africa 16
1.3 Ecological modernisation theory and modernised mixtures approach 17
1.4 The question of institutional arrangements for SWM 18
1.5 Study context 19
1.5.1 Profiles of the main urban centres 19
1.6 Outline of thesis 20
Chapter 2.
Changing dynamics of politics in East Africa 21
2.1 Introduction 21
2.2 Dimensions of change 22
2.2.1 The place of local government 22
2.2.2 Privatising municipal services 25
2.2.3 Role of civil society 28
2.2.4 Regional integration 30
2.3 Theoretical perspectives 32
2.3.1 Centralisation versus decentralisation 32
2.3.2 Developmental state versus network governance 34
2.3.3 Multi-level governance 36
2.4 In search of new political configuration for SWM at municipal level under the
modernised mixtures approach 38
2.5 Operationalising the conceptual frameworks: research methodology 40
2.5.1 Case study research 41
2.5.2 Data collection 42
2.5.3 Internal validity of research 46
Chapter 3.
Municipal authorities and performance of solid waste management tasks 47
3.1 Introduction 47
3.1.1 Methodology 48
3.2 SWM tasks for municipal authorities 48
3.2.1 Tasks identified according to theory 48
3.2.2 Tasks performed 51