The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) led by Major-General Mohammed Badi has began shutting down over 1,000 dumpsites following an order by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to a report by Daily Nation on Thursday, June 10, the entity has already successful closed 73 sites with plans in high gear to closed the rest.
NMS Deputy Director-General Kang'ethe Thuku also confirmed 35 sites had been earmarked by the state to serve as official dumping sites of waste generated around the city.
"Some 73 dumpsites have been cleared and closed, preventing further illegal disposal of garbage. NMS is still working on the rest of the remaining areas where garbage had accumulated," stated Thuku.
Over the recent months, Kenyans have been up in arms over a spike in illegal dumping sites that had become an eyesore with others located along highways.
Thuku further revealed that plans to increase daily garbage collection from 2,500 tonnes to 3,000 tonnes were in high gear and casual labourers had already been contacted for the purpose.
The labourers were to operate in Starehe, Kamukunji, Mathare and Makadara sub-Counties in the Southern region while Dagoretti North and South, Kibra and Langata sub-Counties forming the Northern region.
Other areas were Embakasi North, Central, East, West, and South are part of the Eastern region while Westlands, Ruaraka, Kasarani, and Roysambu will be part of the Western region.
"Since the establishment of NMS last year in March, we have increased daily solid waste collection from an average of 1,800 tonnes to 2,500. Our aim is, however, to increase the average daily waste collection to 3,000 tonnes by roping in casual labourers to boost the collection," he added.
Uhuru had on March 18, 2020, directed badi and his team to carry out a crackdown on illegal dumpsites.
100 days after the creation of the entity, Badi reported that NMS had mapped out 110 illegal dumpsites and immediately began shutting down 82 of them.
A crackdown was also launched on 122 illegal discharge points across the city.
