Understanding the role of informal pit emptiers in sanitation in Nairobi through case studies in Mukuru and Kibera settlements

Mallory, Adrian; Omoga, Lilian; Kiogora, Domenic; Riungu, Joy; Kagendi, Dorothy; Parker, Alison

doi:10.2166/washdev.2020.193

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In informal settlements where there are an array of different governance systems and overlapping providers, there is a need to recognise and understand the resulting hybrid systems of governance and legitimacy (Boege et al, 2009; Kapidžić, 2018). Such hybrid systems are often not well captured in official policy documents and include more hidden forms of power and control such as patronage networks, rent‐seeking and service provision ‘cartels’ (Bercegol & Monstadt, 2018; Boege et al, 2009; D'Arcy & Cornell, 2016; Mallory et al, 2021; Reback, 2007; Thieme, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential for scaling up container‐based sanitation in informal settlements in Kenya

Mallory

Mdee

Agol

et al. 2022

J of Intl Development

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Kenya has enshrined the right to sanitation in the 2010 constitution. Achieving this requires scaling up infrastructure and models of delivery beyond sewer networks that have previously been the focus. In Kenya, two enterprises, Sanergy and Sanivation, have been providing new forms of off‐grid services with container‐based sanitation (CBS). This paper uses a political economy analysis to understand the incentives, institutions and power dynamics that are enabling or constraining the potential for such off‐grid sanitation models. The paper outlines six core problems to be addressed in the pursuit of scaling up: fragmented governance; sustainability of CBS enterprise models; service delivery planning in informal settlements; personal power rather than institutions in decision‐making; vested local interests; and land tenure and political connection. It discusses how stakeholders might work collaboratively to progressively address or recognise these issues.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential for scaling up container‐based sanitation in informal settlements in Kenya

Mallory

Mdee

Agol

et al. 2022

J of Intl Development

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“…A critical body of research also focuses on the multifaceted challenges of the livelihoods of sanitation workers, including how institutions shape this occupation, informality, low and irregular incomes, and arbitrary contracts (van der Wel et al, 2010;Nkansah et al, 2012;Mallory et al, 2020;Xu and Dou, 2021;Rajendra, 2022). This area of focus correlates with current initiatives in the WASH sector around improving sanitary work.…”

Section: Sanitation Workers: Rights "In" Sanitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sanergy, a social enterprise, has also worked with manual pit emptying groups in Nairobi, Kenya, to deliver sanitation services in lowincome settlements. Although supporting sanitation workers is vital, long-term improvement in, or job security for workers remains elusive, with many WASH projects and programmes oriented primarily toward efficient and sustainable service delivery, and not worker welfare (Mallory et al, 2020;Zaqout et al, 2021).…”

Section: Sanitation Workers: Rights "In" Sanitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sanitation work: Realizing equity and inclusion in WASH

et al. 2022

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Recognition of the human right to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and equity and inclusion concerns around gender, disability and age have led to crucial change in WASH programmes and policy, responding to commonly hidden issues such as menstrual hygiene, inclusive facilities for people with disabilities, and affordable services for residents of informal settlements. Despite progress toward realizing the rights of end users “to” sanitation, this crucial body of work has overlooked the rights of an unseen, diverse population working “in” these services, including those who handle human waste. There are increasing calls within and beyond WASH for sanitation workers - marginalized by their informal and hazardous roles, and intersections of caste, religion and gender - to realize their rights to safe working conditions and social security. Yet, sanitation work has received little attention from equity and inclusion WASH scholars, despite the pressing need to challenge dominant technical, health-centric framings of sanitation that can overlook workers' lived realities. We argue for an intersectional, interdisciplinary approach to support sanitation workers to realize rights to fair living and working conditions, including inclusive WASH infrastructure at work. We draw on the limited literature available to highlight gaps in, and show the importance of the sub-sector of equity and inclusion to engage further with the lived realities of sanitation workers. Increased collaboration between sanitation workers, activists, and allies working on inclusion, labor rights, fecal sludge and solid waste management is paramount to realize sanitation workers' rights and to truly provide “inclusive” sanitation for all by 2030.

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“…For urban onsite sanitation facilities to be considered "safely managed" under the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program fecal sludge should be contained and then safely transported and treated (JMP, 2022). Emptying and transport of fecal sludge from onsite systems across sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly outsourced by municipalities or utilities to a highly heterogeneous private sector with service providers ranging from individual manual or semi-mechanized pit emptiers to companies operating vacuum tankers (Peletz et al, 2020b;Mallory et al, 2021). Informal and unsafe fecal sludge management practices disproportionately affect low-income neighborhoods, where manual or semi-mechanized pit emptiers are the main service providers (Peletz et al, 2020a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Informal and unsafe fecal sludge management practices disproportionately affect low-income neighborhoods, where manual or semi-mechanized pit emptiers are the main service providers (Peletz et al, 2020a). These pit emptiers typically come from marginalized backgrounds and have a precarious livelihood, facing significant health risks, social discrimination and financial insecurity (Zaqout et al, 2020;Mallory et al, 2021). Manual or semi-mechanized pit emptiers are largely informal workers (following the definition given in Hussmanns, 2004), not recognized by the state (Zaqout et al, 2020;Lerebours et al, 2021b;Mallory et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transforming citywide sanitation provision: Utility voices on pit emptying and transport services in Kenya and Zambia

Grisaffi¹,

Oluoch²,

Hamuchenje³

et al. 2022

Front. Water

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This paper documents the key challenges faced by utilities in sub-Saharan Africa attempting to establish citywide safe manual and semi-mechanized latrine pit emptying, transport and disposal services. The research aims to take a snapshot of utilities at a pivotal point in service development, where initial services have been piloted and the utilities are looking to go to scale. We use the CWIS framework to guide analysis of perspectives of the implementing agencies in Livingstone, Zambia, and Malindi, Kenya, using a secondary data review and 34 key informant interviews. This paper confirms previous findings around the high cost of safe sanitation services in low-income areas, the barriers of emptiability, the engagement of manual pit emptiers and the requirement for investment in supporting systems. Areas for future research were identified, including approaches for service delivery to reduce the decision load on the household, structures of engagement and regulation of pit emptiers, and finally how regulation could support incremental improvements toward full coverage, including the lowest income households. The research documents, for the first time in the region, the challenges of dealing with disgust in establishing these new services and the conflicting role of public utilities as both commercial and social organizations. The current model for private sector delivery of the service is politically viable and reduces the risk and cost burden on the utilities. However, it is likely to leave the utilities unable to scale sanitation to low-income areas.

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Understanding the role of informal pit emptiers in sanitation in Nairobi through case studies in Mukuru and Kibera settlements

Cited by 13 publications

References 13 publications

The potential for scaling up container‐based sanitation in informal settlements in Kenya

The potential for scaling up container‐based sanitation in informal settlements in Kenya

Sanitation work: Realizing equity and inclusion in WASH

Transforming citywide sanitation provision: Utility voices on pit emptying and transport services in Kenya and Zambia

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