Framework For Effective E-waste Management In Government Of Kenya: A Case Study Of The Ministry Of Ict, Innovation & Youth Affairs

Abstract

With the rapid developments in technology, electrical and electronic equipment tend to have a shorter economic life and today people are faced with a new type of waste called electronic waste (Didem & Kiraz, 2019a) . The research aimed at studying the e-waste management practices in government ministries in Kenya and specifically focused on the Ministry of ICT. The objectives included identification of the electronic product used, their impact, challenges, e-waste management practices and recommendations of overcoming the challenges. The research was descriptive in nature and used both qualitative and quantitative research designs for the study. The target population included 451 employees in the ministry while the sample consisted of 110 regular employees (25%) and 11 heads of departments (100%). Random sampling was used to identify the respondents while data was collected through semi structured questionnaires. The data was subjected to WEKA for further analysis and revealed that BayesNes was the most appropriate decision tree model for effective management of e waste in government ministries based on its high level of accuracy. A framework was developed for ensuring effective management of e-waste in the public sector. The findings revealed that there is a general problem with the management of e-waste in the public sector. Additionally, it was revealed that most employees are not aware of e-waste management practices and have not been trained on e-waste management. Further, the research revealed that no trainings have been conducted on e-waste management and there is no policy to govern the same. The findings could be used by the public sector and other stakeholders in planning for and effectively managing e-waste in Kenya.