Sh1.1bn Murang'a landfill to be completed in four months

@Alicewangechi

Construction of the national government's Sh1.1 billion landfill in Murang'a county will be completed this year, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has said.

The project, constructed by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project, started in 2016 but stalled three years ago.

It is expected to handle solid waste from the county, which is facing serious waste management issues.

The county generates about 390 tonnes of waste daily.

Wahome, who visited the project on Tuesday, said the project stalled due to lack of funds and political transition.

She said it will be completed by September.

“Considering the time it has taken, I wanted to do an inspection to verify its status and ensure construction resumes,” Wahome said.

Excavation works have been completed and the landfill is only waiting to be equipped.

The CS said the government has provided sufficient funds and is in the process of procuring necessary equipment.

A number of residents had opposed the project, saying it will contaminate their water.

The project, which sits on 50 acres in Maragua, will see organic waste buried and compacted in the ground.

It was initially meant to process waste from the five Nairobi Metropolitan counties including Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Murang’a.

But after locals’ uproar, it was downsized to only process locally generated waste.

A number of leaders including MCAs were taken to Tanzania while MPs were flown to South Africa for benchmaking.

Wahome also inspected Sh109 million Muthithi and Sh342 million Kangari markets under construction.

“We have agreed with area MP to first complete these two instead of starting new ones to provide a decent and safe space for traders. These are good projects for wealth creation," she said.

Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro said the two-storeyed markets will be fitted with cold rooms to reduce wastage and increase traders' returns.

They will also attract more customers, he said.

Kang’ata praised the national government for launching the projects, saying they will improve the lives of residents.