Nema bars councils from collecting garbage in towns

By Patrick Beja and Peter Orengo

Most local authorities will no longer collect garbage from next month, following a directive from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

Nema revoked the mandate of the councils, citing lack of seriousness.

Nema Director-General Musya Mwinzi, said they had invoked Section 12 of the National Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act, inviting private companies to manage solid waste.

Despite protests from the local authorities, Mwinzi yesterday said the authorities have failed to manage solid waste.

In a paid advertisement in The Standard yesterday, Nema appeared to seal the fate of local authorities, which have collected revenue for garbage collection over the years.

The authorities have also been blamed for the heaps of garbage choking most urban centres.

Dr Mwinzi said Nema gave councils three months to improve waste management, but they have failed.

Open secret

"It is an open secret that all local authorities have not performed that role satisfactorily," he said.

He said Nema wanted local authorities to manage their own waste and had no intention of taking over the responsibility.

He was reacting to a council meeting in Mombasa, last week, which alleged Nema’s involment in solid waste management.

Recently, The Standard published a week-long series, exposing the rot in councils, though they collect revenue from rogue garbage collectors.

Readers suggested ways of handling garbage, which could earn the country revenue to the tune of Sh2 billion annually.

Municipalities put on notice include Mombasa, Mavoko, Thika, Nyeri, Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru.