Pit emptying issues in informal settlements in Nairobi (Kenya)

This study sought to establish pit emptying practices and examine challenges in manual pit emptying in an informal settlement. Sanitation stakeholder’s preferences for the most suitable type of sanitation technology were also examined. Cross-sectional design was adopted. Data was collected using questionnaires, pictures and observations. 166 household respondents and 29 key informants were interviewed. Population was stratified into seven and ten sub-locations in Mukuru kwa Njenga and Mukuru kwa Rueben respectively. Findings indicated that manual and container-based sanitation (CBC) emptying were the predominant practices at 43% and 39% respectively. Other options included pay to use toilets at 9% and pour flush 9%. Friedman’s two- way test of variance ranked distance to far from the toilet as the dominant challenge. Other challenges included financial constraints and mismanagement of toilets. The most preferred sanitation technology among the total household respondents was CBS at 42% followed by sewer line at 30%. Stakeholders’ capacity building and establishment of infrastructure is recommended to support sanitation services in informal settlements. More so, establishment of sanitation policies that harness public/private is fundamental in scaling up of offsite sanitation technologies and services.