Abstract
This paper considers the potentials and limitations of partnerships between municipal authorities and local and external groups in addressing environmental problems, and illustrates this with an account of the experience in the city of Nakuru in developing such partnerships. It describes the serious inadequacies in the provision for water, sanitation and solid waste management in Nakuru, and then describes the Localizing Agenda 21 Programme that was developed in the city, supported by a variety of national and international agencies and NGOs. It points to this programme’s strengths and limitations and highlights the difficulties facing any under-resourced municipality in developing partnerships without more support from national government and more local capacity to work with low-income groups and their community organizations.