Kibaki, Raila petitioned over Dandora dumpsite

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

Studies have been conducted, committees formed and a relocation site for the notorious Dandora dumpsite proposed.

And after years of waiting in vain, the residents have taken the challenge to the highest office in the land.

They are now pushing for relocation of the biggest dumping site in the city, which has made the populous estate an eyesore.

A group of village elders from Dandora and surrounding areas, in partnership with various agencies, wrote a memorandum to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to spearhead the decommissioning of the site.

"We call on you to provide leadership in the process and set up a framework to co-ordinate waste management in Nairobi and relocation of the site," read the memorandum in part.

Ten years after the Government declared the garbage site a health hazard, residents are still wallowing in the mountain of garbage.

A study conducted by the United Nations Environmental Programme in 2007, showed the site causes irreversible damage to the immune, nervous and reproductive systems of the residents.

It indicated at least half of the children tested during the research had concentrations of harmful substances in their blood, including lead.

And lately, the dumpsite has turned into a death trap where preying gangs waylay their victims.

But despite these reports, efforts to relocate the site have been fruitless.

Original plans were to move the dumpsite to Ruai on the outskirts of the city, but there has been no such success.

The dumpsite is believed to be a multi-million shilling industry controlled by cartels, profiting from waste.

The elders, however, appreciated the efforts by various stakeholders and called for well co-ordinated activities.

Vested interests

"The setting up of a proper waste management system does not exclusively belong to any particular group. It is an issue of human rights and national development which the Government should prioritise," they said.

The elders noted there are many vested interests in the project, which may result into conflict.

"We ask the two principals to come up with proper mechanisms to bring together all the stakeholders," said Safer Nairobi Coalition Chairman Reginald Okumu.

Early this year, Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia forged a working partnership with the National Environmental Management Authority to implement environmental policies, which included waste management.

Lobby groups, residents and international agencies have also beefed up campaigns to urge the Government to manage waste.

Last week, Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi said he had submitted a draft policy paper to the Cabinet and if approved, private companies or individuals handling waste would be hired competitively.

He, however, said it might take a little longer than expected due to logistical problems.

The council proposed to invite competent companies and individuals through competitive bidding to take over waste management, saying the current private garbage collectors only have trucks without better equipment.

It is estimated that at least 2,000 metric tonnes of waste is deposited at the site daily.