In the past two weeks, Nairobi has gradually degenerated into a dirty city whose garbage poses a health hazard.
From roadsides, and pedestrian paths to street lanes, uncollected and spilt garbage has filled the estates and some areas within the Central Business District.
Nairobi county assembly deputy majority whip Chege Waithera says that City Hall has claimed that the county fleet does not have insurance and contractors have not been paid.
Efforts to reach out to the head of Treasury at City Hall Joseph Gathiaka who is also the acting finance executive were futile as he did not respond to calls and messages.
The NMS communication director did not respond to our calls and messages either.
“I'm sure you have realised there is a lot of filth in almost every area in Nairobi. A lot of uncollected garbage and creation of illegal garbage sites by Nairobians who don’t care about our environment,” she said.
“I consulted the executive and they gave me three reasons behind this including; the county government and Nairobi Metropolitan Service accounts don’t have funds.”
Waithera, who is Nairobi South MCA, said that normalcy might resume early Tuesday as the acting finance executive is finalising the process of getting funds to solve the issue.
“According to the Solid Waste Management Act, it is the duty of every occupier, owner or agent of a house or other premises to clean or cause to be cleaned 10 metres radius around his or her house or premises which shall not include a main road or street,” she said.
To clear the filth over the weekend, NMS started a cleaning exercise in the CBD along certain roads and streets.
They included Haile Selassie Avenue, River Road, Duruma, Racecourse, Ring road, Pumwani, Landhies, OTC area, Latema and Kenneth Matiba roads.
Acknowledging it is their mandate to deal with waste collection, transportation and disposal services within all the 85 wards, they only maintain a small own fleet, outsourcing about 70 per cent of the work to garbage management firms.
“To successfully manage all the waste generated within Nairobi, NMS requires about 150 trucks doing atleast two trips per day,” NMS said.
NMS said the number of trucks will require a lot of manpower and resources for maintenance.
The entity has partnered with Magnet Ventures Ltd in the installation of garbage collection bins at strategic points within the CBD.
Members of the public have been advised to refrain from illegal dumping and littering which can cause serious public health effects.
“Any person who places or allows usage of a waste container in a public place or private premises which is not of such a design, size, shape and quality prescribed by or under the Nairobi City County Solid Waste Management Act 2015 shall be guilty of an offence,” NMS said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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