Kenyans protest Eldoret's filth

By Edwin Cheserek

Readers have flooded the Standard digital platfrom to express their outrage over poor management of garbage in Eldoret town.

Many reactions are being received after The Standard published a story on how garbage collection is poorly coordinated and insufficient.

Questions are now being raised as to why the council has not enlisted the services of the private sector to enhance efficiency.

“How hard can it be to efficiently and effectively collect garbage?” asked Dickson Oduor.

He went on: “All that is needed is to provide adequate litter bins at strategic positions to ease the exercise.”

Mr Oduor pointed out the exercise was done effectively in most towns in country long ago stating that the same could still be accomplished.

A concerned reader identified only as Philemon demanded that the council must cease using child labour.

“This amounts to violation of human rights and the council should be taken to task for using children as garbage collectors,”he said.

Councillor Elizabeth Kibii said the exercise had initially been privatized but became unsuccessful because the firms used inefficient means.

“Since the firms took over the management of the waste, we realised there were no changes because most of them were using donkeys for transportation,” said Ms Kibii.

She however disclosed that they had resolved to re-advertise the exercise through tendering to ensure efficient and effective collection of garbage.

The civic leader pointed out laxity in enforcing council bylaws, which she said has seen influx of hawkers in the streets.

She called for collective responsibility among the stakeholders saying this will help make the town even cleaner.

Eldoret town clerk Mr Stanislas Ondimu said the council has privatized garbage collection in seven estates within the municipality.

He however concedes that the council is facing challenges collecting refuse especially in informal settlements.

“Private firms have withdraw their services because those living in slums are not paying for their services,” explains Ondimu.

The town clerk disclosed that plans were underway to incorporate institutions including schools to take part in the clean up exercise.

“We want them to join us because it is part of their social corporate responsibility,” says Ondimu.

He said they would embark on provision of thrashes at collection points to ease the council’s work.

The council, he added, has enlisted the help of small enterprises recycling materials to reduce volume of waste.

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