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Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: Eunice Likoko a Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya

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Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: Eunice Likoko a Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Examensarbete i Hållbar Utveckling 148 Urban Slum: A Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: Eunice Likoko A Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya Eunice Likoko Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences Master Thesis E, in Sustainable Development, 30 credits Printed at Department of Earth Sciences, Master’s Thesis Geotryckeriet, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 2013. E, 30 credits Examensarbete i Hållbar Utveckling 148 Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: A Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya Eunice Likoko Supervisor: Gloria Gallardo Evaluator: Lars Rudebeck Content 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and aims .......................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Methodology ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 The Participants ............................................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Limitations of the research design ................................................................................................................ 7 3. The case study: Sanergy ................................................................................................................................... 8 4. Literature review ............................................................................................................................................. 10 5. Results .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 5.1 Participant observation results .................................................................................................................... 13 5.2 Questionnaire results .................................................................................................................................. 13 5.3 Focus Group discussion results ................................................................................................................... 14 5.4 In-depth interview results ........................................................................................................................... 16 5.4.1 Marketing team .................................................................................................................................... 16 5.4.2 Construction team ................................................................................................................................ 17 5.4.3 Field Officers ....................................................................................................................................... 18 5.4.4 Founder and Management ................................................................................................................... 18 5.4.5 Waste management team ..................................................................................................................... 19 5.4.6 Fertilisera expert .................................................................................................................................. 20 5.4.7 Interview with a government representative ........................................................................................ 21 6. Discussion ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 7. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 7. Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................... 27 References ............................................................................................................................................................ 27 9. Appendix .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Appendix 1: Questionnaires used For Data Collection ..................................................................................... 31 Appendix 2: Fresh Life Toilet construction Materials. ..................................................................................... 36 Appendix 3: Responses from the non-users of Fresh Life Toilets .................................................................... 37 Appendix 4: Responses from Users of Fresh Life Toilets in Mukuru .............................................................. 38 Appendix 5: Tabulated comparison of data from users and non-users of Fresh Life Toilets ........................... 41 Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: A Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya. EUNICE LIKOKO Likoko, E., 2013: Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: A case study of Mukuru in Kenya. Master thesis in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE- 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden, No. 148, 41 pp, 30 ECTS/hp Abstract: Informal settlements around the world are plagued by a general lack of essential infrastructure, scarce and strained resources. This has resulted in glaring sanitation and subsequent health problems. Kenya is a developing country with several informal settlements which lack systems for managing human excreta. Effective management of human excreta remains elusive in the highly populated informal settlements. Sanergy is a social enterprise that seeks to provide a sustainable human excreta management solution in Kenyan slums. The purpose of this thesis is to assess Sanergy’s project viability in managing human excreta in slums. This analysis is based on qualitative methodology consisting of open and semi-structured interviews, moderate participant observation, focus group discussions as well as some participatory tools such as brainstorming and neighborhood mapping. Additionally this study incorporates GIS mapping information, national and global statistics and a l iterature review to understand the different dynamics of managing human excreta in a s lum context. The result of this paper’s assessment shows the viability of the Sanergy project as a s ustainable sanitation solution for Kenyan slums, and beyond. Keywords: Sustainable Development, social enterprise, ecological sanitation, informal settlement, Fresh Life Toilets Eunice Likoko, Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. II Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: A Case Study of Mukuru in Kenya. EUNICE LIKOKO Likoko, E., 2013: Ecological Management of Human Excreta in an Urban Slum: A case study of Mukuru in Kenya. Master thesis in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE- 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden, No. 148, 41 pp, 30 ECTS/hp Summary: By nature, human beings all over the world visit the toilet on a daily basis. However, a significant part of the global population lacks toilet facilities. This global problem is worse in the informal settlements where there is a general lack of toilets. The limited functional “toilets” in informal settlements are unsafe, run down, overflowing with human excreta and unhygienic. The question therefore is where do they go to relieve themselves? Many people practice open defecation in bushes and other available spaces. This problem has presented a myriad of health related challenges in many parts of the world. In Kenya, the slum dwellers are worst hit by this sanitation challenge due to a high population density and a lack of supporting infrastructure. Makeshift pit latrines, illegal toilet connections to the main sewer systems and lack of running water to support the flushable toilets present a sanitation nightmare in all Kenyan slums. In Mukuru slum in Nairobi, the picture is equally grim. Over the years, there has been an attempt to address the sanitation challenge but the efforts have been few, scattered and soon overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the problem. Sanergy entered Mukuru’s sanitation scene in 2010 after realizing there was an urgent need to realistically address this problem with a long term perspective in mind. Using a business model, the social enterprise outfit then began the process of setting up compost toilets in Mukuru slums to address the existing need. Through these toilets, branded ‘Fresh Life Toilets’, Sanergy seeks to provide decent toilet facilities to Mukuru residents and use the faeces and urine from the toilets to provide manure and energy for the market. Having been in operation for two years in the slums, one of the questions this paper looks at is, “Is there room for sustainability in this initiative?” This study looks at ecological sanitation as a model for sustainable sanitation. The ecological sanitation
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