TOPIC: VALUES’ IMPACT ON RESIDENTS’ ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NAIROBI, A CASE STUDY OF EASTLANDS NAME: MURURI MBIRO JOSEPH REG. NO: A82/96267/2014 SUPERVISORS: 1.PROF WAHOME – UoN 2. DR. K. KIEMO – UoN

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Environmental degradation is a result of interplay of socio-economic, industrial and technological activities.  Environmental changes are driven by economic & population growth, urbanization etc.  Solid waste- any garbage, refuse, sludge etc. Increased consumption leads to waste generation  Management of solid waste is a challenge worldwide – it is inefficient and underfunded  Solid waste management plan - 2006

PROBLEM STATEMENT  Thousands of tons of solid waste are generated daily – ending up in open dumps, wetlands, contaminating ground and surface water-posing health hazards.  In Nairobi household waste falls into two categories : Low income areas (forming 60% of population) and middle and high income areas (forming 40% of the population) Solid waste exceeds collection capacity – owing to rapid growth of population and urbanization. Disposed in open dumpsites and semi-controlled land fills – serving as a breeding point for rats, flies – that are disease vectors. Despite solid waste management plan and other policies- it is still a big problem  The research will examine residents’ values that impact on their attitudes and practices.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY Although literature on solid waste management exists, it is scanty on values and their impact on peoples’ attitudes and practices. Values are shaped by the culture in which people live. Values guide our behaviour – people adapt to behaviour through learning enforced by the society, culture and living conditions. Hence need to examine value system in relation to regulations in place for solid waste management. Results will help address peoples’ attitudinal development and practices towards solid waste – this approach is new. Research will add knowledge on solid waste management.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. How do values impact on residents’ attitudes and practices on solid waste? 2. Why do residents’ values impact on residents’ attitudes and practices on solid waste management? 3. How much do residents know on solid waste management?

OBJECTIVES GENERAL OBJECTIVES  To undertake an observation study of solid waste management in Nairobi with a focus on Eastlands. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES  To determine the residents’ values attitudes and practices towards solid waste management.  To examine residents knowledge on solid waste.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK  Values – things that one believes are important in the way one lives and works.  It will focus on Human Behaviour Theories with a focus on normative conduct.  Programs have been undertaken to discourage behaviour that damage environment.  Norms have a strong and regular impact on behaviour.  Persons focused on normative considerations act in norm consistent ways (Berkowitz 1972)  (Gellar et al 1982) Findings on littering behaviour- Individuals litter into an already littered environment.  This occurs because individuals to some degree are focused on descriptive norms present in a situation.

LITERATURE REVIEW Solid waste generation and disposal is a global problem.  In developing countries – it is more acute – due to rapid growth of informal settlements and poor planning. ( Grodnzinska 2001) – There is need for education to improve upon knowledge, attitude and behaviour.  Knowledge, attitude and behaviour is important in Solid Waste Management (Ballantyne et al 1998).  Peoples’ perception determines how they behave.  Social environment – i.e. cultural background, socio-economic status of community, institutions and organizations influence behaviour on Solid Waste Management.

STUDY AREA  Eastlands area of Nairobi- home to over 1 million people of Nairobi county’s 3.2 million population.  It is a combination of better “planned” estates and unplanned estates.  Demand for housing due to urbanization has led to mushrooming of informal settlements.  Solid Waste is littered all over making most of the Eastlands area a health hazard.

METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN  The researcher will use descriptive design.  Data will be collected from both primary and secondary sources.  Questionnaires will be used for data collection.  Owing to the large number of residents, systematic random sampling method will be used.  Raw data will be organized and analysed to allow for inferences to be made.  Rapid data analysis technique will be used. Key issues from key informants will be recorded.  The researcher intends to publish two to three articles from the research.

WORK PLAN  The course work is already completed WORK PLAN  The course work is already completed.  Proposal defense and submission.  Data collection, organization, analysis and conclusion.  The researcher intends to recruit a research assistant and four assistants  The entire process is estimated to be complete by April 2017.  It is estimated to cost Four hundred and thirty plus or minus 20,000 thousand Kenyan Shillings