A Landlord/lady Perspective on Emptying and Transportation of Faecal Sludge in informal settlements of Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Emptying, transportation and disposal of faecal sludge in informal settlements of Eldoret Kenya is still a big challenge. This study aimed to identifying actors and factors determining emptying costs and constraints limiting improvement in service provision with the use of a questionnaire and a review of secondary data. A total of 35 respondents were issued questionnaires. The data showed that most of the households were using septic tanks as the preferred method of Onsite Sanitation Systems (OSS). The study also noted that there were no price regulations for faecal sludge emptying services. Through the study, it was found that the private exhausters were charging the customers exorbitantly and there was a need to create a regulatory framework to manage the costs. It was also found that due to the high-water table within the environs of Eldoret and Uasin Gishu County at large, there was a risk of groundwater contamination, especially for the neighbors who solely depended on water from their wells for their daily household use. It was established that the emptying charges were directly proportional to the capacity of the exhauster and the haulage distance to the wastewater treatment plant. In summary, the paper recommends adequate allocation of funds, the involvement of all key stakeholders, the creation of awareness and education in the FSM and the creation of a legal framework or policy governing the management and disposal of FS as we move towards the realization of SGD 6.