Implicit Role of “Scavenger Waste Pickers” in Sustaining Urban and Peri-urban Waste Management Ecosystem in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Informal waste pickers, commonly described in the manuscript as scavenger waste pickers, contribute to solid waste collection and material recovery in Uasin Gishu County despite operating largely outside formal waste-management structures. This study examined the socio-economic and operational profiles of 60 waste pickers observed across rural, peri-urban and urban localities in the county’s six sub-counties. Data were recorded using an observational questionnaire and itemised checklist and analysed using descriptive charts and percentage distributions. The findings showed a strong male predominance, with men accounting for 85% of the observed waste pickers and women 15%. Most activity occurred in urban areas (60%) and peri-urban areas (35%), while rural areas accounted for 5%. Waste handling was predominantly unsegregated (95%), and 98% of the observed waste pickers operated individually rather than in organised groups. Use of safety or protective equipment was low, with 93% recorded as not using protective gear, while 9% were observed to have a physical disability. The findings indicate that informal waste picking forms an observable supplementary component of the county’s solid waste-management system, particularly through the recovery of useful materials from waste streams. However, the activities are characterised by limited organisation, poor segregation practices, occupational exposure and social marginalisation. Greater recognition of these activities, together with improved occupational protection and waste-segregation practices, may support more inclusive waste management in Uasin Gishu County.