The Role of Formal and Informal Actors in Sanitation Delivery in Mukuru Kwa Reuben.

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals agenda 6.2 aims to improve access to safely managed sanitation by 2030. Although efforts have been made to meet the target, the sewer system serves only 17 % of the Sub-Saharan African population in informal settlements. Possible interventions and options to address sanitation issues in informal settlements have been advanced through research.  However, upscaling and improving fecal sludge management in informal settlements has been a challenge because of overpopulation, land tenancy issues, complex roles of stakeholders, and technical and political constraints. This study sought to investigate the role of formal and informal actors in sanitation delivery in Mukuru Kwa Reuben. The study used a case study design with a qualitative approach. Snowballing and purposive sampling techniques were used to enroll 52 participants, including Public Health Officers, Mechanical and Manual Pit Emptiers, Landlords, and actors from ministries, sanitation enterprises, and non-governmental organizations.  Data was collected using focus group discussion and key informant interviews and analyzed thematically in NVivo version 12.  The landlords, Mechanical and Manual Pit Emptiers were primary providers of sanitation facilities, however, they expressed that "cartels," controlled the provision of water and sanitation services. Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company provided connections to sanitation and water systems. The Public health officer expressed they were enforcing and coordinating sanitation, however, the Public Health Act cap 242 was cited as old with low fines. The UN-Habitat official expressed the role of a town multi-stakeholder forum in the delivery of basic sanitation services. FSM Alliance official expressed the role of capacity building as a component of coordinating fecal sludge management which could be built politically The NEMA official expressed the role of self-regulation and compliance assistance in ensuring that facilities comply with regulations. The FSM Alliance employee explained the role of targeted subsidies and user fees in maintaining non-sewered sanitation infrastructures. African Development Bank official discussed the role of urban sanitation investment funds as the traditional sources of funding were not enough. The study concluded that the governance of sanitation delivery in the slum was inadequate and fragmented due to the conflicting roles between actors, controlling cartels, unresponsive financial arrangement and partially implemented WASH Acts. The study recommends the need for more investment in sanitation services and coordination strategies to ensure improved sanitation in slums.