Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja has assured Nairobians that his administration will deal with illegal dumping in undesignated sites leading to heaps of litter dotting the city's estates.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 10, Sakaja affirmed that the months of neglect of filth were attributed to garbage contractors downing their tools due to money owed.
He added that his administration had since collected over 70,000 tonnes of garbage in a month.
"A lot of Nairobi has been like this. Months of neglect, illegal dumping in undesignated sites, and garbage contractors downing their tools due to money owed. In our first month in office, we collected over 70,000 tonnes. You will see sustainable changes," Sakaja stated.
Sakaja was responding to an uproar online by a section of Kenyans who lamented about the sad state of certain estates in Nairobi. The governor, however, pointed out that it was not an isolated case in Pipeline but rather a common issue facing most estates.
Most Kenyans online opined that the preferable means to solve the menace is through a community-driven initiative.
"This is a big menace in Nairobi so kindly let your ward administrators walk around neighborhoods, discuss and educate the residents on proper waste disposal avenues. I am sure they will get positive and working solutions from residents," read a tweet from Jack Kija.
"I think it's high time we make this a community initiative, as we push the county governments to provide collection points we should also talk amongst ourselves to dispose of waste in an organised manner," a tweet from Jacob.
In addition, others advised the governor to invoke policies and read riot acts to landlords who didn't have a great waste management system.
"I'm very sure the government of Sakaja Johnson has a long-term solution to this. Waste management solutions are policy issues. Also, residents have to be responsible and avoid dumping waste everywhere. We must own our city and not expect elected leaders to do everything. Your City, your choice," Steve Njenga stated.
"The county government just needs to read the riot act to landlords. They collect millions yearly from tenants but never bother to have reliable water supply and waste management systems," read a tweet from Mfalme.
In the run-up to the August 9 poll, Sakaja had assured that he would set up a recycling plant that would turn the waste into energy. Further, he promised to unblock sewage disposal systems as part of the cleanup process.
