Oto visits Kayole Environment Management Association

Friends,

I took my time this morning and paid a Courtesy Call on Mr. Simon Njoroge Munywe- 74, the Director of Kayole Environment Management Authority and I was shocked by the physical state of neglect in Kayole, but pleased with what he was doing in his small way for Mother Kenya. I had earlier met with the Chief Kayole Location Mr. Hilary Chumo.

Mzee Simon Njoroge Munywe with Odhiambo T Oketch in Kayole this morning the 11th August 2012

Now, I want to believe that we have different Departments in Government simply because we want to serve the people and serve them well.We cannot say so with the state of our physical environment. We have completely neglected common sense issues and we have decided to live badly. Perhaps, the Media might do us some justice by simply focusing on this rot in our society as a wake up call to the lethargic performance of some of the Directors of Environment in our Councils across Kenya.

Something must be done. I want to believe that the amount of Garbage and Litter in our Towns has become simply beyond the immediate control of our Councils. And the sooner we all realized this the better.

Now, I was really impressed by Mzee Munywe, who at 74 is pursuing his PhD in Environmental Management at Jomo Kenyatta University and living his Education at the same time.

Mzee Munywe has employed 85 Kenyans- 30 Women and 55 Men- to help him serve 12,000 household in Kayole. Kayole is a vastly neglected area with 120,000 household, all living in real pathetic physical environment. Common are the sites of uncollected garbage, open sewer, unplanned structures, and neglected Estate Roads- all symptoms of a disfunctional Department of Environment.

Kayole Environment Management Association  serves only 10% of the Kayole Residents. And they are doing great. Mzee Munywe is not gloating about his PhD Status, he is empowering Kenyans with his knowledge and in the process making the following items out of waste;

1. Fencing Poles- termite proof,
2. Fuel Briquettes that burn for 3 hours,
3. Roofing tiles,
4. Stools,
5. Drainage Tunnels,
6. Baskets etc

Some of the items Mzee Munywe is producing from Waste- Roofing tiles, Stools, Baskets and Drainage Tunnels

The sad reality is, Mzee Munywe approached the City Council of Nairobi to allow him pick all the compost waste from Wakulima Market at his own cost and the Council REFUSED. Very sad. He was even willing to pay for the waste! Yet, the Department of Environment at the City Council of Nairobi has proved that they have no idea at all on how to handle the waste that we are generating in Nairobi. Then when someone offers to help them at his own cost, they refuse the help.

Instead, they run to Japan to request for Technical Assistance on what we can solve by ourselves.

Dandara has become one huge Dumpsite and every body knows this. We also know that we can clear the mess in Dandara in 6 Months. But for the mandarins at the Department of Environment at the City Council of Nairobi, they are better off with endless studies that point to solving the problem in 2020. That is the import of a study the Department has developed in partnership with JICA. My God!

How can we relegate simple and straight forward issues like this to constant aimless studies and hope to achieve Vision 2030? It is with this in mind that we are pushing the officers in the Department of Environment at the City Council of Nairobi to either shape up or ship out. They are becoming an embarrassment to the People and the Government of Kenya. And I want to confirm that the residents of Nairobi deserve better than what the Department is doing.

Or, the Team should be sent packing if they cannot perform and deliver to the expectations of the Residents of Nairobi. They must not be allowed to sit in office and read newspapers at the expense of service delivery.

Currently, the World has adequate Waste Management Technology that even sorts waste by itself. It only needs commitment and leadership to make this happen. The good thing is, we have Officers in Government who have set their sights on achieving a Clean Kenya by 2013 as we celebrate our 50 Years of Independence.

As we all do our part in The Clean Kenya Campaign, we want to keep appreciating all the Teams that have partnered with us in this Transformative Campaign in Kenya. And moreso, we want to appreciate the Public Service Transformation Department at the OPM and the National Environment Management Authority for their support.

On Monday, we will give you an update of all the Teams that have indicated their willingness to join with us on the 28th August 2012 at the KICC for The 2nd Consultative Forum on Waste Management where our Focus will be on Making Practical Steps towards the Process of Separation of Waste at Source.

Let us all work for a Clean Kenya as a Transformative Deliverable as we turn 50.


Odhiambo T Oketch,
Executive Director,

The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC

Tel; 0724 365 557
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The Clean Kenya Campaign is an Initiative of The KCDN Kenya.