Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study

Onsite sanitation, such as pit latrines, is essential to achieving universal access to safe sanitation, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal target 6.2. However, manual emptying for pit latrines in low-income areas is often unhygienic, posing health and environmental risks. Enhancing the safe...

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Autores principales: Tomoi, H., Ingumba, B.B., Simiyu, S., Otteng, E., Osewe, J., Majiwa, Hamilton, Braun, L., Cumming, O., Moriyasu, T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176123
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author Tomoi, H.
Ingumba, B.B.
Simiyu, S.
Otteng, E.
Osewe, J.
Majiwa, Hamilton
Braun, L.
Cumming, O.
Moriyasu, T.
author_browse Braun, L.
Cumming, O.
Ingumba, B.B.
Majiwa, Hamilton
Moriyasu, T.
Osewe, J.
Otteng, E.
Simiyu, S.
Tomoi, H.
author_facet Tomoi, H.
Ingumba, B.B.
Simiyu, S.
Otteng, E.
Osewe, J.
Majiwa, Hamilton
Braun, L.
Cumming, O.
Moriyasu, T.
author_sort Tomoi, H.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Onsite sanitation, such as pit latrines, is essential to achieving universal access to safe sanitation, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal target 6.2. However, manual emptying for pit latrines in low-income areas is often unhygienic, posing health and environmental risks. Enhancing the safety of these services increases costs, yet affordability for customers is essential. Thus, reducing service costs is a key priority. Group-based approach, where emptiers visit multiple toilets consecutively, has potential to improve both service efficiency and affordability. However, few studies have investigated its applicability to manual emptying. This paper aims to identify barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services in low-income neighbourhoods of Nairobi. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with landlords, tenants, and manual emptiers in the Korogocho informal settlement in Nairobi and interviewed 20 key informants from relevant sectors in Kenya. We identified five categories of barriers and enablers that affected general and group-based manual emptying: 1) funding, 2) expertise and equipment, 3) social and commercial habits, 4) physical conditions, and 5) regulatory systems. Of these, a norm that pits are not emptied until they get full, operating time constraints, fair and transparent pricing, and an organiser who can arrange group-based emptying from Category 3, and transport capacity from Category 4 specifically affected group-based manual emptying. Given that the barriers have a cascade structure, addressing some primary barriers such as capacity building and recognising manual emptiers’ role in the sanitation policies could be effective ways to ensure safe and affordable emptying services.
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spelling CGSpace1761232025-12-08T10:06:44Z Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study Tomoi, H. Ingumba, B.B. Simiyu, S. Otteng, E. Osewe, J. Majiwa, Hamilton Braun, L. Cumming, O. Moriyasu, T. hygiene health Onsite sanitation, such as pit latrines, is essential to achieving universal access to safe sanitation, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal target 6.2. However, manual emptying for pit latrines in low-income areas is often unhygienic, posing health and environmental risks. Enhancing the safety of these services increases costs, yet affordability for customers is essential. Thus, reducing service costs is a key priority. Group-based approach, where emptiers visit multiple toilets consecutively, has potential to improve both service efficiency and affordability. However, few studies have investigated its applicability to manual emptying. This paper aims to identify barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services in low-income neighbourhoods of Nairobi. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with landlords, tenants, and manual emptiers in the Korogocho informal settlement in Nairobi and interviewed 20 key informants from relevant sectors in Kenya. We identified five categories of barriers and enablers that affected general and group-based manual emptying: 1) funding, 2) expertise and equipment, 3) social and commercial habits, 4) physical conditions, and 5) regulatory systems. Of these, a norm that pits are not emptied until they get full, operating time constraints, fair and transparent pricing, and an organiser who can arrange group-based emptying from Category 3, and transport capacity from Category 4 specifically affected group-based manual emptying. Given that the barriers have a cascade structure, addressing some primary barriers such as capacity building and recognising manual emptiers’ role in the sanitation policies could be effective ways to ensure safe and affordable emptying services. 2025-06 2025-08-17T16:47:20Z 2025-08-17T16:47:20Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176123 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Tomoi, H., Ingumba, B.B., Simiyu, S., Otteng, E., Osewe, J., Majiwa, H., Braun, L., Cumming, O. and Moriyasu, T. 2025. Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 267:114595.
spellingShingle hygiene
health
Tomoi, H.
Ingumba, B.B.
Simiyu, S.
Otteng, E.
Osewe, J.
Majiwa, Hamilton
Braun, L.
Cumming, O.
Moriyasu, T.
Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study
title Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study
title_full Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study
title_short Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative study
title_sort barriers and enablers for group based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in nairobi kenya a qualitative study
topic hygiene
health
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176123
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