ICASTOR Journal of Engineering Vol. 5, No. 3 (2012) 127 – 138 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Correspondence: Mr. N. K. Gakungu, Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya. E-mail: gakungunk@yahoo.com SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF PUBLIC TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS N. K. Gakungu, A. N. Gitau Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering University of Nairobi Nairobi, Kenya B. N. K. Njoroge M. W. Kimani Dept. of Civil and Construction Engineering Dept. of Real Estate and Construction Management University of Nairobi University of Nairobi Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, Kenya ABSTRACT Technical training institutions in Kenya continuously produce solid wastes which are not disposed of safely, effectively or economically. The result is accumulation of garbage from the institutions which cause pollution and unsightliness and thus impact on the living standards in the institutions. This study examined the generation, collection and disposal of solid waste in the public technical training institutions by quantification of the various components of solid waste generated and evaluation of the attitudes of the people responsible for generation and management of waste. From 42 technical training institutions, a sample of 29 institutions (73%) was selected for study. It was established that the 29 institutions generate about 23 tons of waste per week composed of mainly vegetable and food remains (82%). Other waste includes plastics, papers, ash, metals and glass. It was also established that the cost of waste management in the institutions is dependent on both the waste generated and the institutional population. The cost of planning and managing the waste ranged from Ksh 0.13 to 0.59 /week/student while per capita waste generation ranged from 0.28kg/week/student to 0.71kg/week/student. In order for the institutions to effectively manage the solid waste, Boards of Management should incorporate waste management in their institutional planning. This can be achieved by ensuring that collection and disposal are carried out on a planned basis and allocating adequate human and financial resources. KEYWORDS: Solid, Waste, Management, Technical, Training, Institutions, Planning, Kenya. INTRODUCTION Most countries in the world experience challenges in managing waste. The challenges range from reducing generation of waste, separation, change of habits, collection, transport, treatment, reuse and disposal of the waste. UNEP (2005) sees the challenges as different for different levels of industrial development. In an attempt to accelerate the pace of its industrial development, an economically developing nation may pay inadequate attention to solid waste management. Ngoc and Schnitzer (2009) argue that increasing population,