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Solid waste tends to have moisture contents as high as 70%. This moisture translates into leachate as the waste drains. Urban councils are grappling with challenges of preventing environmental degradation due to non-systematic solid waste management and the impetus in pollution control is rather slow and seems to be mostly crisis driven. Review of the institutional strength and development reveal a low collection efficiency(all between 30 to 40 % in the study period) and not comparable to even the worst performing cities in the world. In the three towns, Nairobi,Mombasa and Kisumu, there should be a decentralisation of authority and administrative measures, to build the powers and capacities of local governments commensurate with their solid waste management (SWM) responsibilities. Tests revealed that the concentration of COD, BOD, total hardness, TDS, chlorides, nitrates, iron and conductivity decreased with depth while those of Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH and alkalinity increased with depth. The underlying consequence of this state is the deterioration of the environment in the form of air, water and land pollution.

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Dr. Simeon Otieno Dulo is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nairobi. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering (Ground Water pollution); MSc in Water Resources Engineering; BSc in Civil Engineering. He is a member of the Institute of Engineers Kenya, Hydrological Society of Kenya, NBCBN-RE, Nile-IWRMnet

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