Introduction

Located in south-eastern Kenya, Taita Taveta County is known for its scenic landscapes and growing urban areas such as Voi, Wundanyi, and Taveta. In 2022, the County Government of Taita Taveta partnered with UN-Habitat to implement the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT), the Waste Flow Diagram (WFD), and the Wasteaware Benchmark Indicators (WABIs), giving local authorities a baseline and a complete picture of how waste moved through the system, from generation to final disposal. The findings provided the county with its first comprehensive, data-driven overview of the solid waste situation.

Results of the WFD and WaCT

The WFD and WaCT revealed that most of Taita Taveta’s waste was being disposed of in open dumpsites or informal areas, with limited segregation at source and minimal recovery of recyclable materials. Only a small proportion of waste was formally collected and the county faced challenges related to transport, storage, and environmental pollution.

By quantifying the collection rates, recovery percentages and leakage points, the WFD helped local officials see where improvements were urgently needed. This visual approach made it easier to communicate technical findings to decision-makers, community leaders and development partners.

The data became the foundation for the county’s Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan, developed with support from UN-Habitat in 2023. The strategy outlines the following priorities:

• Strengthening waste collection systems and logistics;
• Establishing controlled disposal sites;
• Enhancing recycling and composting capacity;
• Supporting the integration of informal waste workers.

Pinpointing investment and infrastructure development

One of the most significant steps emerging from this process is the planned establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Taita Taveta. The facility will be owned by the county and operated by an umbrella organisation of waste picker groups that will help formalise livelihoods while improving recycling rates.

This initiative reflects one of the key strengths of using this trilogy of tools (WaCT, WFD, and WABIs) and its ability to link baseline data directly to investment and infrastructure planning. By providing an accurate picture of waste composition and recovery potential, the assessment gave the county the evidence needed to prioritise the MRF and attract technical and financial support.

Lessons from Taita Taveta

Taita Taveta’s experience shows how local data can be used to guide practical, county-level action. Beyond producing a report, the process also helped strengthen local capacity by training county officers, community members and youth groups in waste characterisation, data collection and analysis. This ensures that the benefits of the assessment will extend beyond a single study.

References

1. UN-Habitat. (2023) Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy. Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2023/05/municipal_solid_waste_management_strategy_-_web_version.pdf
2. UN-Habitat. (2023) Municipal Solid Waste Management Audit Report for Taita Taveta County. Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2023/03/taita_taveta_waste_audit_report_-_final_2.pdf