A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the conferment of master`s degree in sanitation of Meru University of Science and Technology

Includes references and appendices

Inadequate access to improved sanitation remains a huge factor contributing to increased mortality and morbidity rates, especially among children. Despite the growth in economy and recognition of sanitation as a basic human right, investment in sanitation infrastructure has not yet been achieved, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. As such, nearly 827 000 people die yearly due to inadequate sanitation, water and hygiene. To track the flow of excreta in urban areas, the existing sanitation infrastructures were assed, the proportion of community with access to safely managed faecal sludge was examined, the challenges facing service delivery was assessed and a Shit Flow Diagram for Nkubu town was developed. A descriptive cross- sectional survey was employed. The research instruments involved use of key informants’ interviews, observation and focused group discussion for primary data. The secondary data was gotten from existing data. The Susana platform and the shit flow diagram tools were used for data analysis and generating a shit flow diagram for Nkubu town. The questionnaires collected data on characteristics of sanitation facilities, type of containment, frequency of emptying and charges and socio-demographic features. The data collected has been presented using a shift flow diagram, tables, graphs and charts. The results indicate that 28% of the excreta was safely managed while 72% was not safely managed. The pit latrines were the commonly used containment method with 45%. Open defecation was practiced in the area with 3% of the population practicing it. The proportion of faecal sludge emptied by vacuum truck which was delivered to the treatment plant was 100%. Only 40% of the faecal sludge taken to the treatment was properly treated and disposed. Some of the major challenges that were experienced in the process of managing fecal sludge were high water table in the area, high licensing fee and service fee charged per load at the treatment plant. The findings imply that the unsafely excreta management practices in Nkubu town pose a risk to the health of residents in and around the town and the quality of water sources. Due to lack of local context data from this town to inform stakeholders on interventions and planning, this study provides a qualitative assessment of fecal sludge management I the town and notes the challenges hindering the sludge management of faecal sludge across the service chain of growing towns in developing countries. The situation highlights an urgent need to develop specific strategies that will increase the amount of safely managed faecal sludge within the town. This study points to the possible areas of interventions such as proper planning of the town to ensure that service lanes are easily accessible, also decentralizing the treatment plant to a place that is nearer Nkubu town and also creating an enabling environment for faecal sludge management in the upcoming towns.