Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and Geoffrey Mosiria, the Nairobi City County Chief Officer for Environment, are engaged in a war of words over the state of waste management in Nairobi.
The exchange began after Cherargei criticised Nairobi for its lack of litter bins, poor drainage and high waste levels earlier this week, prompting Mosiria to respond immediately.
Cherargei claimed that waste was becoming a menace in Nairobi and posing a significant threat to the health and sanitation of Nairobi and its residents.
In response, however, Mosiria dismissed Cherargei’s claims that Nairobi lacked litter bins, urging him to visit a hospital to have his eyes checked.
While responding to Cherargei’s criticism over the capital’s waste management policies, the Chief Officer recorded a video near a litter bin to discredit the senator who had lamented over the lack of litter bins.
In his response, Mosiria noted that waste in the city centre was brought by street families and other Nairobi residents. Still, he maintained that along Parliament Road alone, the county had put up four litter bins.
Also, he challenged Cherargei to focus his energies on creating awareness and encouraging Nairobi residents to stop littering, instead of criticising the hardworking staff at the environment department.
“To Senator Cherargei, Nairobi does in fact have litter bins strategically placed across the city, with many of them located within the Central Business District (CBD),” Mosiria noted.
“Instead of criticising the staff at the environment department in Nairobi, kindly help us in telling people to stop littering along the streets of Nairobi. Stand with us so that we can ensure compliance,” he said.
Sakaja's Modern Bins
Back in June, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja installed modern, Glasdon Jubilee 110-litre litter bins in the CBD. The bins are allegedly made from a durable material called Durapol, which is heat-resistant and tamper-resistant.
The overall installation of CBD bins kicked off on Sunday, May 18, led by Mosiria, with the bins replacing the previously installed ones which were either made of plastic or metal.
Features of the bins include a domed top to prevent rainwater from collecting and a secure three-point locking system to stop unauthorised persons from accessing them.
To combat unauthorised advertising, which has been a common challenge in the city, the bins also have a special anti-posting finish.
Internally, they’re equipped with corrosion-resistant plastic liners, and some variants include lightweight moulded polyethylene for added durability.
