1. What are the good practices you want to share with the ACCP fellows?

The Homa Bay County monthly clean-up initiative has been enhanced through a partnership with UN-Habitat and Lycksele Municipality under the Municipal Partnership Program. Inspired by the Keep Sweden Clean program, this initiative focuses on intensified clean-up efforts to tackle global waste challenges.

Governor Gladys Wanga officially launched the program on World Cleanup Day (September 22) to emphasize the urgency of combating pollution and fostering sustainable waste management practices.

Key Achievements

• Improved waste management practices.
• Increased community participation.
• Heightened awareness of responsible waste disposal.

Funding & Key Stakeholders

The initiative is supported by the Swedish Government, UN-Habitat, and local stakeholders, establishing a sustainable funding model. Key actors include:

• Homa Bay County Government
• UN-Habitat
• Swedish Government
• Tom Mboya University & KMTC Homa Bay
• Civil society organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and local communities

By leveraging partnerships, community engagement, and knowledge exchange, this initiative aims to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment for Homa Bay residents.

2. What are the challenges in MSWM your city is facing today?

Homa Bay faces significant MSWM challenges, affecting waste collection, handling, and disposal. These issues impact environmental health and slow sustainable urban development.

Reasons for the Challenge

• Inadequate Infrastructure:
  • Shortage of waste receptacles for proper collection and storage.
  • Insufficient waste trucks for timely transportation.
  • Lack of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to support recycling.
• Inefficient Waste Practices:
  • Limited source segregation reduces recycling and composting.
  • Poor systems for managing specialized waste streams, such as fish waste.
• Strategic & Financial Deficiencies:
  • Absence of a County Integrated Waste Management Plan.
  • Limited funding from the county treasury for waste solutions.
• Communication Gaps:
  • Lack of a comprehensive awareness strategy for citizen engagement.

Request for Solutions & Ideas

We seek insights from ACCP members on:

• Strengthening waste collection and segregation infrastructure.
• Promoting investment in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
• Developing innovative models for sustainable fish waste management.
• Improving stakeholder engagement through education campaigns.
• Exploring funding mechanisms to increase the waste management budget.

Your expertise and experiences would be invaluable in advancing Homa Bay’s waste management efforts.

3. Share your message to other members as a member of the same ACCP.

As ACCP members, we share a commitment to sustainable urban development through effective waste management. While our cities face unique challenges, they also present opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

I encourage knowledge-sharing, best practices exchange, and discussions on impactful solutions. Through the ACCP platform, we can:

• Foster deeper engagement.
• Build meaningful partnerships.
• Strengthen our collective impact on sustainability.

Let’s collaborate, share ideas, and drive action towards cleaner cities. Together, we can create a lasting impact.