Abstract:
Participation in sustainable solid waste management (SWM) projects is increasingly recognized as a catalyst for
youth empowerment in urban Africa. This study examined Participation in Sustainable Solid Waste Management
Projects and Its Effects on Youth Empowerment in Kisumu City, Kenya, focusing on how youth involvement in
waste collection, disposal, and recycling contributes to social, economic, and innovative empowerment outcomes.
Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, and Deci and
Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory, the study analyzed how youth engagement in waste collection, disposal, and
recycling influences empowerment outcomes. A cross-sectional design was adopted, targeting 320 youth, with
175 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured
questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while ordinal
regression assessed relationships among variables. Findings revealed a strong, positive, and statistically
significant relationship between youth participation in SWM activities and empowerment outcomes. Waste
collection (β = 1.719, p < .05), waste disposal (β = 2.188, p < .05), and recycling (β = 4.625, p < .05) significantly
influenced empowerment, accounting for 59.3 percent of its variation. The study concludes that youth
participation enhances environmental awareness, leadership, social inclusion, and economic independence. It
recommends that policymakers, NGOs, and local governments strengthen youth engagement through capacity
building, financial support, and improved waste infrastructure.
