City filth keeps piling up as cleaners’ strike persists

Heaps of uncollected garbage in Nairobi’s central business district continued to swell yesterday as workers contracted by City Hall pressed on with their strike.  

County Environment Executive Larry Wambua yesterday confirmed that the striking workers were yet to be paid dues dating back to three months.

Mr Wambua blamed supremacy battles at the finance department, which he said had delayed the release of funds for payment.

“We as the environment department don’t make payments. The finance docket has been involved in constant wrangles and tussles on who is the substantive finance executive,” said Wambua.

But Finance Chief Officer Washington Makodingo denied the claims, saying the environment department was to blame for the delay in processing of payments.

“The environment department is mandated to present a list of contractors for payment by the finance department. They should tell us what payment to prioritise, but instead of doing that they are blaming us,” said Mr Makodingo.

City Hall has, however, said it would be enlisting the help of the National Youth Service (NYS) to collect garbage.

Pending bill

Wambua had announced that the NYS is expected to commence collection of garbage as soon as a Sh16 million pending bill is paid to the youth service.

He said a memorandum of understanding signed between City Hall and the national government stipulates that NYS will begin garbage collection in Makadara, Roysambu, Ruaraka and Embakasi East where there are no contractors. The MoU, however, allows for the NYS to help collect garbage in other zones across the capital. NYS will also rehabilitate city roads that are in a deplorable state.

Wambua explained that the decision to engage the youth service was informed by the fact that NYS would charge less than the commercial rate.