Consultative
forum on separation of waste was held yesterday the 11th 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
Mr. Emmanuel Lubembe- Head of Public Service Transformation Department at the OPM closing the Forum yesterday the 11th July 2012 at Charter Hall. He is flanked by Mr. Moses Mbego-Unep, Mr. Titus Simuyu- Provincial Director of Environment Nairobi, Dr David Otuoma- Secretary Nuclear Electricity Project Ministry of Energy and Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch- Executive Director The Clean Kenya Campaign.
The Nairobi we want
Odhiambo T Oketch, Mr. Hamisi Mboga and Mr. James Ogongo of TCKC
Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
A Clean and leafy neighbourhood along Ngong Road. I took the photo on Saturday the 30th June 2012
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