PhD Candidates

Applicability of Public Private Partnerships in Down market Urban Housing in Kenya

Research Supervisors

Prof. Owiti K’Akumu, Dr. Edwin Oyaro Ondieki

The government of Kenya is duty-bound to provide decent, affordable, accessible, and quality housing for all Kenyans as provided in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Kenya Vision 2030 and other international conventions and protocols, such as the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since independence, the country has grappled with the best strategies that can be employed to satisfy the huge demand for housing, which stands at 250,000 housing units per year, with supply being pegged at 50,000 p.a. Housing supply is complicated for housing low-income urban households. To address these challenges, collaborations and partnerships between public and private sectors and Public Private Partnerships have been proposed to address limited capital, expertise, managerial competencies, and technological applications. The research objective was to evaluate the applicability of PPPs in the development of down-market urban housing, determine the challenges facing its application and outline opportunities offered by the PPP model of procurement. Delphi methodology was utilized through three rounds of iterations involving 88 respondents in three panels comprising of housing practitioners, Financiers and developers.

It was discovered that structuring and aligning the interests of the players in PPPs makes it possible to apply the concept in the development and construction of down-market urban housing in Kenya, because there exists enabling environment for its application. Its application might face several challenges including financing, affordability and profit maximization drives, which can be addressed by development of common goals. The study concluded that PPPs are applicable in the sector with the right structuring.

The Sustainability of Computer E-Waste Disposal Management Approaches in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Research Supervisors

1. Prof. Peter M. Ngau
2. Dr. Fridah Mugo

Computer e-waste is the fastest growing solid waste stream (SWS) in the world. It is harmful to human health and environment because of the hazardous nature of its contents. It creates a major disposal management challenge especially in the low-income countries. The study identified computer e-waste disposal management (CEDM) approaches; examined potential risks to human health and environment; assessed level of public awareness on potential effects; and explored possible environmental governance for its sustainability. businesses, ministries and agencies (MAs), disposal sites and households provided data for the study which was then analysed using SPSS. The findings revealed that MAs dispose of the e-waste through auction, throwing away into SWS, and donation; business sell to e-waste collectors, donate and lease out; households use storage, throw away into SWS, donate, sell as 2nd hand material and to recycling facility; e-waste pickers use urban mining and open-air burning; yard shop operators sell to local industries and export market. The level of public awareness on human health and environmental effects of CEDM approaches was low. All the approaches used except recycling by WEEE Centre were found to be unsustainable. The study recommends the creation of a CEDM Authority or a department created at the Communication Authority of Kenya or Nairobi County Office to implement a Zero Computer E-waste Policy. The policy will provide for establishment of: Residential/Commercial/Neighbourhood Computer e-waste drop-off points, County computer e-waste recycling centre, and Ward computer literacy centre for Community computer literacy capacity building.