- Nairobi generates an estimated 3,200 tonnes of solid waste daily, with plastics accounting for over 20 per cent.
- Population increase and rapid urban growth are among the factors contributing to the surge in waste generation within the city.
Image: FILE
Garbage is still choking Nairobi despite Governor Johnson Sakaja's promise and efforts to swiftly clear it.
A stroll through multiple streets and avenues around the Nairobi Central Business district shows that there are very few litter bins around.
The large waste segregation bins that dotted certain lanes and streets also suddenly went missing without any replacement.
After assuming office in August, street sweepers have been cleaning walkways within the CBD at night, contrary to what had been happening in the past.
After hawkers close their businesses late in the evening, the streets are littered which is now dealt with at night.
However, the Nairobi MCAs have a different proposal of how Sakaja and if adopted would affect the multi-million garbage contractors.
In a motion that was passed by the assembly last Thursday, the ward reps want City Hall to award solid waste collection service contracts to youth SACCOs to enable residents to access effective waste management services.
The mover, Mihang’o MCA Paul Kados said despite the county trying to hire dozens of contractors Nairobi has continued to be filthy with garbage piling in almost every corner.
“Pursuant to the provision of Section 38 of the Nairobi City County Solid Waste Management Act, 2015, the County Executive to urgently develop regulations that would enable the award of Solid Waste collection service contracts granted to registered Youth SACCOs and Community Based Organizations at the Ward level to enable residents to access effective solid waste management services,” reads the motion.
Kados youth groups in various estates have been collecting garbage and they have been doing it effectively.
“Unplanned waste dumping and blockage of drainage systems can be cured by providing formalised, well-structured casual labour employment opportunities for thousands of youths across the city within their areas of habitation for purposes of waste collection and disposal,” he said.
Kados who also serves as the county assembly deputy speaker said that the Environment department, which is currently in charge of garbage collection, did not have adequate capacity to handle the challenge and had been held hostage by cartels, leading to the loss of public funds.
Kados indicated that the implementation of waste management faced numerous challenges, ranging from corruption within and beyond the county government.
He said that the new initiative also attracts donor funding, which will go a long way in addressing the garbage problem.
Kados said that hiring youth will also reduce crime and empower them.
“I am confident that the implementation of this proposed motion will go a long way in improving the livelihood of the youth. In the long run, such groups have the potential to evolve and give birth to investment groups,” he said.
Nairobi generates an estimated 3,200 tonnes of solid waste daily, with plastics accounting for over 20 per cent.
Population increase and rapid urban growth are among the factors contributing to the surge in waste generation within the city.
Over the past 13 years, Nairobi residents have suffocated in the filth despite several pledges from sitting governors to clean it up that were never kept.
In 2010, a survey by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Dandora dumpsite is filled to more than three times its capacity.
The dumpsite holds more than 1.8 million tons of solid waste against a 500,000-ton capacity. More than 2,500 tons are deposited daily.
In August 2016, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero struck a deal with the German firm, EMC Solutions, to build an Sh28 billion electricity generation plant at the dump site.
It failed to materialise because the city lacked a title deed.
His successor, Mike Sonko, revived the plan in July 2018, saying the city was in the final stages of awarding the contract. It wasn't awarded.
Before leaving, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services had planned to establish waste recycling facilities in all 17 subcounties to manage garbage in the city.
NMS already set up one facility along Kangundo road in Embakasi West sub-county.
The recycling centres, also known as material recovery facilities, are specialised plants that receive, separate and prepare recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers.
The MRFs will be placed at strategic locations like markets and parks.