Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has warned private garbage collectors, instructing them to disclose where they dispose of the waste they collect.
This comes amid growing concerns about the illegal dumping of garbage in the Nairobi River, which has exacerbated the pollution problem in the city.
Speaking during Mazingira Day celebrations, where he participated in a clean-up of the Nairobi River, Duale accused private waste management firms of being responsible for dumping garbage into the river.
“Private garbage collectors must tell us where they dump the garbage they collect. Right now, they are dumping all the garbage in the Nairobi River,” Duale declared.
Duale introduces new regulations
In a bid to enforce proper waste management, Duale said the government is set to introduce new regulations for garbage disposal in homes and businesses. These rules will include the introduction of colour-coded bins to help households and institutions separate their waste according to type.
“Next week, I am going to gazette the colour coding of garbage. Every homestead and facility must have separate bins for different types of waste, whether organic, dry, or wet,” the CS revealed.
Duale also emphasized the role of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in ensuring that waste is properly traced from homes to designated dumping sites, adding that private companies contracted to collect and dispose of garbage will be scrutinized to prevent illegal dumping.
“NEMA has the responsibility to trace the waste from our homes to the dumping site. We will put into question those companies that are procured to dispose of garbage,” Duale added.
Mazingira Day
This announcement comes on the first official celebration of Mazingira Day, an environmental holiday introduced by President William Ruto earlier this year. The day, previously known as Utamaduni Day, was renamed to focus on environmental conservation and sustainability.
The government’s efforts to promote environmental awareness are part of a broader initiative aimed at combating climate change and restoring Kenya’s natural resources. Key among these is the ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, a target that seeks to increase the country’s forest cover and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Tree-planting drives are being organized across the country to mark the day, reinforcing the importance of collective action in preserving the environment.