This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Published on December 11, 2019, Nairobi County Assembly members have moved to have the management of solid waste in the city handed over to an independent agency.
The motion, which was passed last week, calls for the introduction of the Nairobi City County Waste Management Authority to deal with the garbage menace rocking the capital.
According to the MCAs, the Environment department, which is currently in charge of garbage collection, does not have adequate capacity to handle the challenge and has been held hostage by cartels, leading to the loss of public funds.
Approximately 2,000 tonnes of waste is generated daily in Nairobi, but poor access roads to the city's official dumpsite in Dandora has led to faulty garbage collection tracks, consequently hampering garbage collection and disposal.
Establishing an independent agency, the MCAs argue, will provide leadership and regulate the sector, and also create employment opportunities for the youth.
“We have seen the improvement of service delivery, water supply and sanitation services to Nairobians since the establishment of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company. As such, it means that waste management should be handled in such a manner,” said Dandora Phase II MCA Silas Matara.
Matara also argued that the creation of a waste management authority would attract donor funding, which will go a long way in addressing the garbage problem.
“Nairobians are choking with waste all over. We know the county is trying as much as possible, but still we cannot be able to handle the 2,500 tonnes of waste that is produced in Nairobi daily,” added the MCA.
Related to the issue, Nominated MCA Millicent Jagero called on the Executive to come up with policies to guide on waste disposal and penalties for haphazard disposal of waste.
