CS nominee for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Keriako Tobiko on Friday told the committee on Appointments of the National Assembly that he would ensure all governors make garbage management priority in their counties.
While responding to a question by Majority Leader Aden Duale's question on the citizens' right to have a clean environment, the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) blamed poor leadership at the county level for the garbage menace.
During Friday's vetting session Tobiko stated that he would follow up on the drafting of the Waste Management Bill that seeks to impose the counties the legal obligation to deal with waste.
[caption caption="Keriako Tobiko during vetting session on Friday"]
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“The National Environment Management Authority took both Nairobi and Mombasa counties to court due to the garbage problem, but the judge urged them to work together, instead of going the court way.
“I’ll engage the counties collectively and bilaterally to address waste management, which is having a huge effect on the environment. I’ll ensure the right to a clean and healthy environment is upheld,” he told the MPs.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has been faulted for not handling the garbage issues in the county properly that have been linked to the outbreak of cholera and Chikungunya diseases.
Furthermore, Mombasa residents held demonstrations urging the county government to take action to clean the county.
At one point Joho received backlash when he posted a photo of his office where people noticed just how clean it was as opposed to the city.
"Can't Mombasa be as clean as your office Governor? You can't clean your house and leave the garbage at your doorstep," one user wrote.
[caption caption="Joho in his office"]
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While another user challenged: "Joho we need to talk, call a spade a spade, not a big spoon, clean the city I repeat clean the city."
[caption caption="Protests in Mombasa"]
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