Garbage trucks dropped from list of priorities to keep Nairobi clean

 

Nairobi County garbage trucks. File 

By Kiarie Njoroge

In Summary

• A proposal by the County Treasurer to have containers for garbage collection in informal settlements was also shelved.

Governor Evans Kidero’s plans to deliver a cleaner Nairobi have been dealt a blow after an allocation of Sh350 million to purchase 40 refuse trucks and garbage bins was knocked off the budget.

 

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The budget committee has instead given each of Nairobi’s 85 wards Sh300,000 annually to be paid out to youth groups involved in garbage collection, pushing the total allocation to Sh25.5 million. A proposal by the County Treasurer to have containers for garbage collection in informal settlements was also shelved.

The project had been allocated Sh100 million but the budget committee has cut it to Sh20 million, adding that the containers should only be placed at market places where they will be secure and optimally used.

It planned to introduce colour-coded bins for separation of plastics, organic matter and other non-biodegradable waste

“The Sh250 million allocated for 40 refuse vehicles under the environment sector be scrapped off the budget,” noted the committee’s report. “The sector should fast-track the delivery and utilisation of the 34 trucks allocated for funds in 2013/14 before any more purchases are allowed.”

In January, the county purchased 31 garbage trucks from Chinese automaker Foton but only 11 have been delivered. This delay may have cost the Environment department the extra 40 trucks.

The county, Creative Consolidated, which was contracted by City Hall collect garbage in the CBD, and private garbage firms are currently collecting about 1,200 tonnes out of the daily city production of 2,000 tonnes of refuse.

The reduction in garbage collection budget comes as the assembly prepares tough laws to curb littering, especially plastic bags. The disposal of garbage in plastic bags could earn households a fine of Sh500,000 or a year jail term if a Bill at the Nairobi County Assembly is signed into law.

The Bill bars the placement or throwing of non-biodegradable plastic bags in open spaces. Shoppers will pay a charge for using plastic bags to carry goods from retail outlets at a cost set by City Hall.

City will have to come up with a policy on how youth groups will use the Sh25.5 million allocation.  This will have to be approved by the county assembly.