- Responding to the issue, Sakaja said the contractors had downed their tools due to Sh3 billion unpaid dues.
- The governor promised to initiate long-term changes in garbage disposal and collection.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
Nairobi residents say they are yet to feel Governor Johnson Sakaja's impact since he took over office.
Governor Sakaja is still working with executives and chief officers from the previous administration and the positions have not been advertised as vacant.
However, they say, this is not a pressing issue. Their main concern is why the governor is yet to act on certain issues for them to see any change.
Speaking to the Star, the residents were concerned about the garbage menace, water shortage, decongestion of the roads and the take over of the CBD by hawkers.
“In Kariokor, we are yet to see a change in garbage collection. There are days we wake up and there is a pile of garbage especially, over the weekend,” Rehema Hassan said.
“As a Dandora resident, uncollected garbage has been the norm and we were hopeful that after the election, clean up in the city would begin but up to date, nothing [has happened],” John Omullo said
Uncollected garbage has been seen in various parts of the city, including the Central Business District.
Responding to the issue, Sakaja said the contractors had downed their tools due to Sh3 billion unpaid dues.
The governor blamed the previous administration, saying the current situation is as a result of neglect.
“Nairobi has been like this. Months of neglect, illegal dumping in undesignated sites and garbage contractors downing their tools due to unpaid dues,” he said in Twitter response to the garbage menace in Pipeline estate.
The governor promised to initiate long-term changes in garbage disposal and collection.
He said since he was sworn in office, his administration has collected at least 70 tonnes of garbage.
The issue of hawkers has never been solved since the onset of devolution. They keep increasing in the CBD.
The recently rehabilitated Aga Khan Walk is slowly being taken over by hawkers, who are stationed there as early as 2pm.
Along Tom Mboya, Ronald Ngala, and Mfangano streets, the situation is the same as pedestrians have to struggle for their way to avoid stepping on products being sold on the footpaths.
Hawkers have taken over sidewalks and roads creating confusion and traffic congestion.
They have also been put on the spot over the garbage menace within CBD and along Haile Selassie Avenue.
“It's always a struggle to deal with hawkers and the governor should act and bring order in the CBD,” Jemimah Mueni said.
Nairobi residents have also complained about water rationing for too long and they want Sakaja to sort out the issue.
“In Umoja, the rationing is usually three and four times a week. Sakaja should give a way forward and offer a solution,” Chris Okeyo said.
However, an official at City Hall who sought anonymity told the Star that the governor is still putting his office in order before starting on any work.
“The governor just got all the functions back from NMS and a lot of scrutiny is needed in terms of pending bills and other factors. Change is coming but he has to put everything to order first,” the official said.
City Hall is also choking in debt after revelations that Sakaja has inherited Sh99.06 billion from the administration of Ann Kananu and the Nairobi Metropolitan Service.
The latest data from the Controller of Budget shows Nairobi’s pending bills jumped to Sh99.06 billion for the year ended June 2022, from Sh54.32 billion in the 2020-21 financial year.
This means the city incurred Sh40 billion in pending bills in just 12 months.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris