Council to transform Dandora dumpsite into leisure park

By Mutinda mwanzia

The City Council of Nairobi has moved to transform the Dandora dumpsite into a leisure park as waste disposal is relocated.

The move is aimed at reducing health risks it poses to city residents.

Among the radical plans are to relocate the dumpsite to Ruai on Kangundo-Nairobi highway and transform the Dandora dumpsite into a leisure park for city residents at a cost of Sh3 billion.

Yesterday, The Standard learnt that already 33 companies have expressed interest to manage the city’s waste.

The companies are already forwarding their proposals to City Hall on how they intend to manage the waste and the cost factor involved.

Town Clerk Philip Kisia said the management of waste in Nairobi was among his priorities adding that the Dandora dumpsite will be rehabilitated.

"We are engaging in a Public Private Partnership with companies that can help handle waste properly in the city. They must have the financial and technical capacity," said Kisia. He said waste management was big business and companies contracted to handle the matter will certainly generate income and create employment for many Kenyans.

Tenders opened

"We are talking about issues of recycling waste and which worldwide is big business," said Kisia. He said the council was paying at least Sh5 million monthly to private garbage collectors and modern waste management plans would help save money that will be diverted to other projects.

Yesterday, sources at City Hall confirmed that at least 15 companies have expressed interest for the tender to close down the Dandora dumpsite while 18 others want the tender to collect, transport, treat and dispose of solid waste at the proposed landfill in Ruai.

The bids for the tenders were opened last month and the vetting process is on going. Kisia said the company awarded the tender to rehabilitate the Dandora dumpsite would have a five-year period to execute the project. "We have to remove the eyesore and which unless managed on time will become a health and ecological disaster," said Kisia.

He said already the Cabinet has approved the move to privatise city waste management by seeking a partnership between the council and other interested players. The Town Clerk said the company that wins the tender to manage waste in the city will also have to devise mechanisms to manage chemicals and heavy metals that are found in the garbage.