The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) led by General Mohamed Badi will commence with the construction of a multi-million dumpsite energy plant in Dandora, Nairobi in January 2021.
Badi said that the factory will solve the county’s garbage problem and contribute to renewable energy pool.
NMS plans to employ street children in the project that will recycle waste dumped in the slum. The street families will be tasked with separating solid wastes before they are taken to the dumpsite.
Badi has used a similar concept before, using the families to tarmac the Grogan Road in Nairobi CBD.
KenGen under the Ministry of Energy took over the project after Badi overruled plans for a public-private partnership.
The energy company added that NMS will provide them with access to the land within or around Dandora dumpsite, while it will finance, develop, and operate the power plant.
“The process is out and we have set an agreement between us and the ministry; they will set up the factory and NMS will supply them with garbage,” Badi disclosed.
Dandora waste area is Nairobi County's main dumpsite and was reported to be three times full. It holds over 1.8 million tonnes of solid waste against a capacity of 500,000 tonnes. It receives over 2,500 tonnes of waste daily.
Cartels have been blamed for running the dumpsite, leading to embezzlement of county funds and a rise in criminal activities in the slum.
General Badi vowed to restore sanity and to also solve the waste problem, a sector that saw him clash with former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
Sonko criticised Badi for allowing garbage to pile in Nairobi while NMS hit back blaming Sonko for failing to pay garbage contractors.
NMS asked police to enforce measures that are stipulated in the Nairobi City County Solid Waste Management Act 2015 section 36 (2 and 3) to aid manage littering in the city.
The law says that any person who dumps or allows waste disposal in any premises, land or any other place not approved for such disposal is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh 200,000.
"I have two years to change Nairobi and I will. In the military, there is nothing such as 'don't'," Badi assured Nairobians and also called for their cooperation.
