Solid Waste Management and Environmental Quality in Emerging Urban Centres: Insights from Suneka Town, Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in developing regions has intensified environmental management challenges, particularly in relation to municipal solid waste. While extensive research has focused on major cities, emerging urban centres remain underexplored despite facing similar pressures. This study examines the environmental quality implications of solid waste management practices in Suneka Town, Kisii County, Kenya. The study adopts a qualitative desk-based research design based on a systematic synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and institutional reports. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and causal relationships linking waste management practices to environmental outcomes. The findings show that inefficient waste collection, informal disposal practices, and poor waste handling contribute to environmental degradation through identifiable mechanisms. Waste accumulation leads to drainage blockage by obstructing water flow, increases pest infestation through organic waste decomposition, and results in odor pollution that reduces environmental quality. These processes collectively compromise sanitation conditions and increase public health risks. The study further demonstrates that these challenges are not isolated but reflect broader structural conditions observed across rapidly growing urban centres in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings highlight the need for integrated waste management systems that combine infrastructure development, institutional strengthening, and community participation. Improving waste management in emerging urban centres is essential for enhancing environmental quality, protecting public health, and promoting sustainable urban development in Kenya and similar contexts.