Nairobi County to engage youth in waste disposal ventures

Nairobi County will spend part of the Sh700 million kitty set aside for environmental conservation in the current financial year to sensitise residents on proper waste disposal methods, Governor Evans Kidero has said.

Many residents, Dr Kidero said, are oblivious to the grave danger posed by improper waste disposal to their health. He cited the rising incidences of communicable diseases in the county as a cause for concern.

He was speaking at City Stadium during the monthly cleanup exercise which was conducted in various parts of the County. The County government uses the monthly cleanup exercises to mobilise residents to keep the city clean. It takes place every last Saturday of the month.

Residents volunteer for various activities like litter picking, garbage collection, raking, drainage clearance, grass cutting and tree planting.

Dr Kidero urged the youth to explore income-generating projects around waste disposal, adding his government was ready to partner with them to set up such ventures.

He added that the County government had committed to fully engage the youth to help redeem the city, once referred to as the 'Green City in the Sun.'

"I am calling on our youth and the public at large to focus on environmental conservation projects that will not only act as a source of livelihood, but also as the sure way to living and working in a clean and healthy environment," said Dr Kidero who was accompanied by his deputy, Jonathan Mueke.

This month's clean up initiative saw many youth participate. Dr Kidero said such noble activities would lure youth away from anti-social behavior such as consumption of illicit brews and drugs.

Noting that cleanliness of the city was the responsibility of all residents, Mueke said the quest for a healthier environment had to start at the household level.

"Environmental awareness and public participation is the best way to sort out the waste issue in our city. It requires the goodwill of both the residents and the county government to ensure that our monthly clean up exercise is a success," said Mueke.

The county revealed it was in the process of tapping energy from garbage at the Dandora dump site to generate power. "We are devising ways of producing energy from waste while recycling plastics. Organic waste will be used to manufacture fertilizer," said Dr Kidero.

He said the involvement of the youth and the public in cleanup exercises was commendable and urged residents to participate in future clean ups.

Kidero also urged the county's residents to be responsible whenever they are disposing waste.