The Nairobi County government will soon be launching rubbish containers at the ward level, estates and in the central business district to ease garbage collection in the county.
The new plan comes in the wake of complaints from private contractors who are on a go-slow demanding over Sh150 million in arrears, accruing from Kidero’s administration and part of the new regime.
Governor Mike Sonko said on Tuesday that the garbage containers and wheelie bins had already been procured and the process of distribution would soon start. The first phase will see 40 such containers dispersed, with youth groups in the county taking charge of the garbage bins at the ward and estate levels.
“As we continue ensuring that we have a clean city, we are at the same time providing employment to our youths. The first phase of this initiative will see 40 garbage skips distributed in various wards and estates with high concentration of garbage,” said Sonko.
The County boss added that waste management in Nairobi would be handled at estate and ward levels, with county staff taking charge of emptying the garbage from the bins and taking it to the official county dumpsites, adding that garbage collection is a duty of the county and not locals.
“We will decide on where to erect them (the containers) but the containers will be placed at strategic areas. Collectors will be carrying out the duty on daily basis but during morning hours,” he said.
Sonko noted that he is determined to ensure quality service delivery to the over two million Nairobi residents where he intends to deal with critical issues such as garbage management, hawkers’ menace, water shortages, and traffic congestion.
He said that since Monday, garbage trucks have been clearing waste from the famous Nairobi markets and estates besides venturing into areas such as Burma, Muthurwa and City markets, Sunken Car Park, Westlands, Makadara and other areas of the county.
“Our biggest challenge has been county staff who are colluding with cartels to undermine our strategies in cleaning the city,” Sonko said.
