Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has moved to streamline garbage collection in the city.
He has ordered an immediate meeting of all actors in the sector to address the issues affecting them and discuss ways of improving services.
The governor's office last Friday met private garbage collectors at City Hall where they raised the problems they face.
Under the umbrella of Waste and Environment Management Association of Kenya, they said they are currently paying numerous licences that increases the cots of operation.
“Currently we are paying business permit, authority to operate, road licence, tipping fees, payment for security at dumpsite and traffic police. We humbly submit that you look into this by scrapping unnecessary licences,” chairman Chege Kariuki said.
The group also asked Sonko to drop the franchising of the city for garbage collection, saying it will render many young people jobless.
"Please see the effects of a monopolised approach from what has happened to our central business district and other areas. Increased poor performance became the fruit of monopoly," he said.
Former Governor Evans Kidero's administration had divided the city into 17 zones for garbage collection. Each zone was to be under the management of specific contractors. But this was challenged in court by WEMAK.
WEMAK members also pleaded with the governor to help them set up waste sorting stations and to allow them partner with the county to improve roads, especially those leading to the Dandora dumpsite.