Consultative Forum on Waste Management 11th July 2012

Consultative forum on separation of waste was held yesterday the 11^th July 2012 at Charter Hall in Nairobi. The forum was officially opened by the Provincial Director of NEMA, Mr. Titus Simiyu. In attendance were various stakeholders from both public and private sector who gave various thoughts and insights into the process.

MR. TITUS SIMIYU-Provincial Director-National Environment Management Authority-NEMA.

In his presentation, Mr. Simiyu first and foremost commended The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC for bringing together stakeholders from both the public and private sector to discuss the structured approach towards waste management. He decried the state of the Dandora waste dump and indicated that NEMA has been contemplating closure of the site. However, with the hindsight of this envisaged separation of waste process, NEMA found it prudent to engage and help drive the agenda of separation of waste to ensure such dumps are reduced and managed well so that the City Council of Nairobi-CCN can deal with smaller amounts hence better disposal of the same. He also decried the inability of enforcement especially with regard to waste dumping. NEMA will ensure from its part, all regulations on good environmental practice are upheld and enforced. As he spoke, he mentioned, his team was out cracking down on unlicensed waste collectors and those whose trucks do not meet the required specifications to ensure they do not spew waste in the process of transporting the same. Other areas of intervention which NEMA is working on and invited the City Council of Nairobi to help enforce is the dumping of medical waste especially the type that require incineration such as needles. NEMA is also cracking down on noise and smoke pollution especially from public service vehicles. NEMA will ensure all the Divisional and Ward Managers at the CCN are well equipped with the regulations from NEMA to enforce proper disposal of toxic medical waste and other Municipal Waste. He challenged the CCN to be creative and take an active role since such initiatives as the one by TCKC are meant to complement what they are mandated and expected to perform. He pledged that NEMA will work with all organizations and institutions both public and private in transforming Nairobi in line with Vision 2030. 

TIM MURUIKI- Chairman, Nairobi Central Business District Association-NCBDA. 

Mr. Tim Muruiki thanked TCKC for the continued sensitization and awareness program it has embarked on for the last 18 months but more so, the direction of separating waste at source. He gave a chronology of the process which begins with waste generators, essentially, all of us. He indicated that the biggest challenge we face regarding waste management is the lack of separating our waste, disorderly and careless disposal of the same that in return affects recycling and converting the same into useful products. To this end, he called on Kenyans to stop the blame game and apportioning blame and become key players in this process. Given there are already several informal recyclings going on, he called for structuring these processes through this initiative to ensure we have a clear chain from the generators bridged by the collectors to the final end user; the waste recyclers and converters. About Ksh. 800 million is spent every year in disposing waste by the Council. This figure could drastically reduce if waste was separated and sorted then recycled and converted into useful products. Half of that amount is what is required to contract various interest groups including youth groups to collect the same and deliver to converters/recyclers if we achieve separation of waste, in the process, creating jobs and employment opportunities for our people. 

He also decried the lack of enforcement and punishing of those who dispose carelessly. If the Council managed to crack down on smoking in public, they should equally be able to crack down on those who dump waste anyhow. He wondered why it is easy to arrest someone who steps on flower beds in the streets and allow waste collectors who do much more damage to the environment to get off without being arrested. He encouraged this initiative to romp in women and youth groups across the city, organize them into teams that will implement this process through the various stages. It is possible for instance to generate 10-20 Megawatts of energy through converting certain types of waste into methane gas. Mr. Muruiki pledged to work with TCKC through NCBDA not only in implementing this process but in awareness campaigns and outreach to various stakeholders to ensure we achieve zero tolerance to waste. Mr. Muruiki was part of the teams that participated during the June Third Saturday of the month cleanup and awareness program. 

Mr. Muruiki expressed fears of the strong vested interests in waste management within local authorities, incompetent and lethargic leadership within most departments and urged the initiative to remain focused and vigilant to attempts to frustrate this process from such characters who are comfortable with the status quo. 

DR. DAVID OTUOMA –Secretary Nuclear Electricity Project, Ministry of Energy. 

Dr Otuoma led the forum in considering the various ways in which we should begin separation of waste, recycling and converting waste.

First and foremost, he indicated that all of us must begin looking at waste as an opportunity. This mindset change will enable our thinking to translate waste into products.

The very first step in this process would be to turn waste to energy which does not require very elaborate steps. Creating energy and heat from waste in a logical waste management process that would not only sort much of our waste but also mitigate our power problems at household levels. This is already happening with some institutions in the country such as ILRI, Dagoretti slaughter house and The Institute of Spinal Research-ISR in Karen. 

The processes include technological ones such as generating thermal waste to hydrogen gas.The other non thermal ways can be used locally such as the anaerobic digesters, fermentation through turning waste energy to ethanol. Dr. Otuoma gave the example of Kenyans blueprint that was picked up by Brazil, the concept involves turning sugarcane to ethanol thus producing energy to power vehicles and the byproducts of this process is the cheap sugar that is dumped into most developing countries, Kenya included. We thus have no reason to lament about expensive fuel prices because we can develop energy for cars from the same source. 

Mechanical biological treatment is already being piloted in 3 towns, Bungoma Biogas Project from pit latrine waste generates methane gas for lighting households, Homa Bay has the piloting of fish bones generating methane for similar purposes.

Dagoreti Slaughter House produces biogas in a demonstration process under Pilot Programme. In Kilifi, a local sisal farmer is using juice from sisal mixed with waste from cows to produce 180 KW of electricity via methane generation. 

In Nanyuki, a young former street boy and his peers run a sewerage system whereby they collect waste and rehabilitate the waste within 7 days through a pond system to produce clean water for horticulture and hay farming. As a consequence, they now have 70 acres under horticulture and hay.

These are just practical examples to show that waste can translate into wealth while mitigating the challenge. These are the case studies whose capacities we should build and then replicate across Kenya. 

Ms Anne Theuri-The National Environment Management Authority-NEMA. 

Ms Theuri took the forum through the regulations of NEMA especially with regard to waste disposal. She indicated that several waste collectors do not meet the required standards and as such NEMA will ensure that waste collection and disposal adhere to the regulations. Through such enforcement, much of the waste that finds its way on the streets and roadsides will be reduced if proper waste collection and disposal is adhered to. She also gave commitment from NEMA that they will guide this process through the separation of waste in order to achieve the desired results of this process. 

Mr. Moses Mbego- Coordination Specialist Unep Kenya Country Office. 

Mr. Mbego appreciated the efforts made by TCKC and gave the assurance that UNEP will assist this initiative through policy guidelines and advice. He expressed confidence that through the government agencies present, this initiative can transform waste management into opportunities if we focus on changing mindsets so that we begin to view waste as a resource and not a challenge. He advised that the initiative develops an Integrated Waste Management Plan that can form the backbone on which separation of waste rides. There are various waste management projects in Kibera supported by UNEP guided policies and that we could consolidate efforts for wider outreach and mitigation across the country. 

Ms Beatrice Kithinji- Executive Officer Kenya Association of Manufacturers- KAM 

The concern from the manufacturers is that cleanups without other mitigating processes eventually fatigues. She noted that this soon becomes a vicious circle and suggested, in line with the direction taken by TCKC that we seek to convert greater %ages of the waste to products to reduce what needs to be disposed.

She also rooted for structured process that ensures we stay focused and able to achieve specific goals within specific timelines. She expressed support for his process and the willingness of KAM to work with the various stakeholders to achieve this goal. She reminded the forum that collecting waste is not the greatest challenge but what to do with it once collected hence the need to separate, convert and recycle. She said that KAM will work closely with TCKC to ensure that we achieve our objectives of a Clean Kenya. 

Ms Susan Wanjohi- ES Office-Ministry of Education. 

She noted that her Ministry could play a very key role especially in awareness through activities such as music festivals, drama, art and craft, essay writing competitions and also at household levels where parents learn quite a lot from their children. The success of mindset and attitude change can heavily rely on the school system to achieve the same. 

TCKC could also organize visits to schools and colleges and give talks on this process and induct students to take a lead in the same. She also suggested the wildlife clubs and related organized groups within school communities that can effectively take up the initiative at school levels and grow with it. The presence of enthusiastic University students from the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University and Inoorero University participating in the deliberations was testimony to what we can achieve through the school system in this process. 

Mr. Sam A Moturi- Chairman Institute of Packaging Kenya-IPK. 

Mr. Muturi shared the concept of their institute which has increased the packaging of milk from 5% to 10% to reduce waste. The institute is also fighting counterfeits which usually do not meet packaging standards. They are also encouraging and improving the quality of plastic packaging. The greatest challenge in this country with regard to waste management is lack of intellectual infrastructure. He noted that such initiatives that seek to mitigate such obvious problems need encouragement. He also noted that littering is a social problem, that with increased and continued awareness, we are bound to socially orient future generations to be more responsible disposing and managing waste. He routed for separation of waste at source as the way to go in sorting out the mess in Nairobi and other cities. 

The IPK is already recycling PCVs, car bumpers, plastic chairs and other plastic products thus this initiative has a case study from where a comprehensive one can be developed to roll across towns and cities facing similar challenges. He pledged support to this process and assured the forum that his organization will assist with ideas in recycling various forms of waste. He said The Institute of Packaging Kenya will work with TCKC to ensure success of the Initiative. 

MR OTIENO SUNGU-The  Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC 

Mr Sungu took the gathering through the state of our cities and towns in a brief power point presentation. It was generally agreed that the images flashing of our capital city were pathetic and a poor reflection of our inability to rise up to the challenge, that waste was resigning us to filthy life styles and we must take a stand and resolve to make the first step. 

In his brief remarks, he noted that as residents of Nairobi and as Kenyans, we must take the initiative to change the sorry state of affairs we find ourselves in. He noted that both public and private sector have key roles to play in the process but more so, the public servants entrusted with service must have the presence of mind to take their duties seriously, engage with all stakeholders and above all, understand their role as held in trust for the people who in return expect service, commitment and dedication. He assured the forum that TCKC will work with government institutions that are up to the challenge and out to make a change but in the same vein, continue unhindered by those that do not seem to realize the great debt of service their offices owe residents. The mandate of this initiative is derived from our collective will to ensure we live in better environments as envisaged in our constitution. He also made a commitment from TCKC to reach out to as many partners as possible in this process so that we establish a national process that will seamlessly ensure waste management becomes an affair we are on top of as a nation to achieve Vision 2030. Sound environmental management is key to this goal. 

OPEN PLENARY SESSION-CONCERNS, CHALLENGES AND SUGGESTIONS.

• It was noted that one of the major huddles for this process is vested interests that will root for status quo to persist. For some, the obtaining situation is a source of income; they benefit from the confused state of waste disposal and would not want anything that upsets this status.
• Lethargic public servants who have no clue, idea, interest or even the passion to make a change. These unfortunately form the bulk especially where implementation needs to be achieved.
• The non attendance of the Forum by anybody from the relevant Department- The Department of Environment at the City Council of Nairobi.
• Challenges of institutional capacity to undertake the challenge hence the need to consolidate and wok in synergy.
• Mindsets and attitudes which have developed over time with regard to waste disposal.
• That we develop a national Road Map that will drive this agenda.
• That sensitization and awareness of the benefits was still very low and needs to be enhanced through outreach to grassroots; at the Ward levels.
• That we ensure we move the process to become a national agenda.

MR EMMANUEL LUBEMBE- Head of Public Service Transformation Department- PSTD at the OPM. 

Mr. Lubembe, in his remarks as he closed the Forum gave direction to this process. He commended the TCKC for organizing the forum and pledged support for further consultations, preferably within the next 30-45 days in order to come up with a clear road map towards waste management at the national level.

He noted that this is a transformative agenda and as such, we need to bring on board all players to brainstorm, structure and institute practical steps towards achieving this feat. Transformation of our society, he noted, is the responsibility of all of us and we need to encourage public-private sector initiatives and partnerships to seek common solutions. The next level of this engagement thus will create a think tank of all stakeholders, work out the structure and form of this process, ensure we have the right arms to research, document and implement the resolutions and outcomes of the consultative agenda.

The Public Service Transformation Department will work with all groups involved in ensuring the implementation of the constitution and to this end, PSTD will work with TCKC to ensure quality of lives of Kenyans as guaranteed in the constitution is achieved. He noted that the right to a clean and healthy environment is now enshrined in our Constitution, and we must all jealously guard this as we work for a Clean Kenya as a Transformative Agenda.

He also noted that constant positive transformation is key to Vision 2030 thus we must keep the tempo and ensure we seek trends that direct us towards achieving the vision, he indicated that when we make periodic assessment; we must note how much we have achieved and the next steps towards the overall goal. 

RESOLUTIONS AND THE WAY FORWARD. 

The following 6 Resolutions were agreed upon;

• Continued Awareness complemented by practical interventions. We must continue the awareness campaigns to sensitize residents of the need for cleaner environments as we prepare to induct them to the separation of waste at source which will be a more sustainable solution to the waste dumps all over.
• Enforcement-That when we undertake cleanup exercises and consultative forums for awareness, the relevant arms of Government must put in place stringent measures to deal with those who keep disposing waste carelessly so that the cleanups begin to bear fruit.
• Regulations- The forum agreed that regulations need to be clear to those enforcing them, especially CCN staff. NEMA accepted to facilitate the Divisional and Ward Managers at the CCN to access NEMA regulations on waste management besides their own by-laws to synchronize and enhance enforcement.
• Consolidating Efforts- It was agreed, as directed by Mr. Emmanuel Lumembe that a follow up forum be organized by TCKC to bring on board all stakeholders, including waste collectors and existing recyclers/converters and every other relevant entities to formalize the road map and review the timelines for comprehensive implementation of separation of waste at source.
• Building Capacity- It was further agreed that this process requires building capacities of the various small initiatives involved, as such, under this initiative, a clear plan to ensure every player has capacity to perform.
• Utaguzi wa taka taka- at the suggestion of Mr. Sam Muturi, It was agreed that as we devolve into counties, we work out a master plan to ensure that the action plan will continue effectively through our partners and stakeholders and also the incoming county governments through successfully trending this process.

VOTE OF THANKS-MR. EMMANUEL DENNIS, CEO, National Youth Sector Alliance-NYSA, Director-Green Initiatives and Head of Strategic Team-The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC. 

In his vote of thanks, Mr. Dennis commended the great support accorded TCKC by NEMA, The Public Service Transformation Department and the Office of the Town Clerk at the City Council of Nairobi in organizing the forum. He also thanked all the stakeholders who participated and gave their input to enrich this process and partner in moving it forward. 

Through several other initiatives he has been involved in, the youth have benefited through job creation and also economic empowerment thus this initiative will definitely open up opportunities for the youth even as we manage waste in our towns and cities. He called for the flame to remain burning and that we ensure in the next forum to be organized in partnership with NEMA and The Public Service Transformation Department, the Road Map should be made clearer from the presentations held yesterday and concrete steps put forward for implementation.

Finally, we appreciate The Star Newspaper which has been keeping track of this process and gave us very good coverage both yesterday and today, National News page 7-City Needs New Waste System, WB says. 

 

Mr. Otieno Sungu,

Programmes Manager,

The Clean Kenya Campaign- TCKC

Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

Website; http://www.kcdnkenya.org