Nairobi garbage firms smell a rat in Bill

Waste management companies have ganged up against a proposed Bill by the county government.

They say they would be pushed out of business if the Solid Waste Management Bill becomes law.

The Bill divides Nairobi into nine zones. One company would then be chosen to collect and manage garbage in one zone.

Waste and Environment Management Association of Kenya members have begun lobbying members of the County Assembly to reject the Bill, arguing that it does not allow competition.

Wemak Chairman Samuel Onyancha said the Bill does not address the waste management challenges in the city because residents will no longer be in a position to choose a service provider.

“Together with the Kenya Alliance of Residents and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials, we will be meeting ward representatives to explain why they should reject the Bill,” Mr Onyancha told the Nation on Monday.

He said the meetings would be held this week.

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Contacted, Governor Evans Kidero said this was the best method of waste disposal as it had been tried in other parts of the world.

“Contracting prequalified companies and private waste collectors has proved ineffective since some of these firms don’t dispose garbage at Dandora dump site as required,” said Dr Kidero.

He added that the idea of zoning was arrived at following advice from the Japanese Government.

In this plan, only one private franchise will get a monopoly licence to collect garbage from one zone under the project “Clean, Healthy, Wealthy Nairobi”. It is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

City Hall has already piloted the project in Zone 7, which is made up of Kilimani, Kangemi, Kileleshwa and Lavington estates. 

And this is what caused protests from Wemak and other stakeholders, especially after Sifa Bins Ltd — a company associated with the governor — won the contract to collect garbage in that zone.

Thirty seven other companies that used to do the same business in this area were pushed out.

“More than 2,000 people we have employed will find themselves jobless if this happens in the remaining zones,” said Mr Onyancha.

Wemak comprises 56 waste management companies.

Consumer Federation of Kenya once raised concern about awarding the contract to Sifa, saying one of the top officials of the company, Mr Peter Hongo, worked with Dr Kidero at Mumias Sugar Company.

“Why was there no consultation, particularly, on the quality and cost of Sifa Bins services?” asked Cofek Secretary-General Stephen Mutoro.