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 Institutional arrangements in urban centres of East Africa Christine Majale Liyala Thesis committee Thesis supervisor Prof. dr. ir. G. Spaargaren Professor of Environmental Policy for Sustainable Lifestyles and Consumption Wageningen University Thesis co-supervisor Dr. ir. P.J.M. Oosterveer Associate Professor, Environmental Policy Group Wageningen University Other members Prof. dr. ir. C.J.A.M. Termeer, Wageningen University Prof. dr. M.P. van Dijk, Erasmus University Rotterdam Dr. C.P.J. Burger, Wageningen University Dr. C. Mireri, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya This research was conducted under the auspices of Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS). Modernising solid waste management at municipal level Institutional arrangements in urban centres of East Africa Christine Majale Liyala Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor at Wageningen University by the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. dr. M.J. Kropff, in the presence of the Thesis Committee appointed by the Academic Board to be defended in public on Wednesday 26th October 2011 at 11 a.m. in the Aula Christine Majale Liyala Modernising solid waste management at municipal level: institutional arrangements in urban centres of East Africa, 178 pages. Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NL (2011) With references, with summary in English ISBN: 978-94-6173-006-0 ISBN: 978-90-8686-189-7 The research described in this thesis was financially supported by the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Fund (INREF) of Wageningen University, the Netherlands. 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 10 Modernising solid waste management at municipal level 3.2.3 (Lack of) performance explained 65 3.3 Exploring municipal autonomy under modernised mixtures 67 3.4 A look into the future 68 Chapter 4. Municipal authorities and non-state actors 71 4.1 Introduction 71 4.2 Participation of non-state actors in municipal SWM 71 4.3 Methodology 73 4.3.1 Jinja - governance as markets and networks 73 4.3.2 Mwanza - governance as communities and networks 79 4.3.3 Kisumu - governance as hierarchy and networks 84 4.4 Market, communities or hierarchical arrangement? 90 Chapter 5. Opportunities for inter-municipal cooperation 95 5.1 Introduction 95 5.2 Multi-level governance 96 5.2.1 Multi-level governance and improved solid waste management 97 5.2.2 Organisational models for cooperation 98 5.2.3 Methodology 101 5.3 Solid waste management in the three small towns: opportunities for inter- municipal cooperation 102 5.3.1 Geographical location 102 5.3.2 Institutional organisation 102 5.3.3 Waste generation 105 5.3.4 Collection and transportation 106 5.3.5 Disposal 109 5.3.6 Recovery and re-use 111 5.3.7 Private sector involvement 113 5.4 Possible organisational models for inter-municipal cooperation in Kenya 113 5.5 Modernised mixtures and multi-level governance 114 5.6 Conclusion 116 Chapter 6. Regional organisations and networks in cross border SWM at municipal level 119 6.1 Introduction 119 6.2 Background-institutional context for cooperation 119 6.2.1 The East African community context 119 6.2.2 National context 121 6.2.3 Municipal council context 122 6.2.4 Methodology 123 Modernising solid waste management at municipal level 11 6.3 Institutional arrangements for cross country cooperation 123 6.4 Regional arrangements on SWM in the Lake Basin 124 6.4.1 Lake Victoria Basin Commission (statutory) 125 6.4.2 Lake Victoria region local authorities cooperation (voluntary) 131 6.5 Conclusion 136 Chapter 7. Conclusion and discussion 139 7.1 Introduction 139 7.1.1 Study overview 139 7.2 Internal organisations and collaborations with non-state actors 141 7.2.1 Performance of tasks 141 7.2.2 Collaborations (formal and informal) 142 7.3 Inter-municipal cooperation 144 7.3.1 Cooperation within a country 144