Governors, MCAs could soon visit Nyayo Estate to benchmark on best ways for waste management

County governors and other senior officials plan to visit Embakasi’s Nyayo estate for a benchmarking tour to learn on waste management instead of flying abroad and waste millions.

This was revealed during launch of the Nairobi circular economy, a campaign aimed at reducing waste in the city in a planned and proper manner.

It was at the meeting that a section of Nyayo estate was praised for being the first city estate to try the new method that involves segregation of household waste not only to ease the job of separating them but also reducing plastics around the neighbourhood.

Teddy Obiero, Chairman of Embakasi Nyayo estate, said that they have been doing segregation of wastes, mostly plastics, for one and half years.

“We realised that we are part of the problem. One time, heavy rains forced us to think outside the box. For now, we collect the waste and put in separate bins.

“Every three months, we do competition involving the kids where different units place their plastic waste in certain metallic cages and reward the winners, who collect the most afterwards,” he said.

Nairobi Metropolitan Services boss Major General Mohammed Badi said there is debate on coming up with law that will force Nairobains to have four different types of bins so as to allow separation of garbage from household level.

He said if the Bill is signed into law, the county will enforce it and he will be on the forefront to arrest those going against it.

In the meantime, Badi said, the Ministry of Environment has launched the circular economy campaign to educate Kenyans on waste management. It will also help some residents make money out of wastes.

Environment Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo said scientific estimates reveal that the waste generated in Nairobi County is 60 per cent organic, while 30 per cent is recyclable.