Dandora dumpsite weighbridge 'grounded to benefit contractors'
A street boy ravages through garbage at at the Dandora dumpsite on September 2, 2015. Nairobi has been relying on the estimation method to determine how much waste is deposited on the 32-acre yard and how much is paid to the contractors. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The weighbridge installed at the Nairobi County dumpsite in 2010 has not been operational since August.
A total of nine contractors were hired by City Hall to deliver waste at the dumpsite.
The committee observed that officers at the weighbridge intentionally chose not to replace the old one so that through approximation, they can pay selective contractors more than they deserve.
City Hall could be losing millions of shillings due to the lack of a functional weighbridge at the Dandora dumpsite.
The weighbridge installed at the Nairobi County dumpsite in 2010 has not been operational since August, county officials said on Tuesday.
ESTIMATES
The damning revelation was by Environment executive Larry Wambua and Chief Officer David Makori, who faced the county's environment committee on Tuesday.
The two appeared before members of county assembly (MCAs) after questions were raised on why Nairobi had been operating a faulty weighbridge yet City Hall bought a new one two years ago.
The committee observed that officers at the weighbridge intentionally chose not to replace the old one so that through approximation, they can pay selective contractors more than they deserve.
“The county is losing a lot of money through that estimation method because it provides grounds for corruption. I think we are aware that the grounding of the weighbridge is by design because I don’t get how they insist on relying on a dysfunctional one instead of installing the new one,” stated Minority Chief Whip and Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok.
A total of nine contractors were hired by City Hall to deliver waste at the dumpsite.
Mr Makori said Nairobi has been relying on the estimation method to determine how much waste is deposited on the 32-acre yard and how much is paid to the contractors.
“We estimate how much a particular truck has delivered based on past quantities recorded at the weighbridge before it broke down. It is a scientific method that is next to reality,” he noted.
“The tonnage varies from season to season in the sense that when it rains, garbage delivered weighs more than that which is delivered during the dry season."
CHALLENGES
Mr Makori also explained that hitches in the procurement department delayed repairs after the bridge broke down frequently due to age.
On the newly purchased weighbridge, he admitted that it lies idle at its yard along Nanyuki Road, two years since procurement through Gokhan Technical Services.
Mr Makori added that the new weighbridge needed a new ramp so the county advertised for the procurement of the same.
“This is the second time that we have advertised for the ramp but no one has expressed interest. Once procured we will be able to install the weighbridge,” he said.
