Six counties seek funds to convert garbage into energy

 

Cows graze at the foot of a hill of garbage at Kachok dumping site in Kisumu on June 12,2017. The dumping site has been surrounded by politics including erecting a wall that would deter cows like these ones off the filth, but the construction of the wall stalled the moment it's foundation was put. (Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

Kisumu has roped in five neighbouring counties to work on a multi-million-shilling plan to convert waste into energy.

County Environment and Natural Resources Executive Barrack Abonyo said they had brought on board Homa Bay, Kisii, Vihiga, Kericho and Busia in seeking funds from the Opec Fund for International Development (Ofid) to initiate the waste-to-energy solutions initiative.

Ofid is an inter-governmental development finance institution established in 1976 by the member states of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

Similar initiative

The initiative is similar to Nairobi's Sh28 billion plan in which Sustainable Energy Management, a German company, will turn solid waste, organic and inorganic, recyclable and non-recyclable material into energy and make the city clean.

Prof Abonyo said yesterday they had sealed a deal with OMC Micropower, a US energy company, on a public-private partnership model and made a proposal for a grant to support a feasibility study and a comprehensive energy production plan.

"We were told Kisumu alone did not have enough waste for sustainable energy production so we brought in the other counties grappling with solid waste management challenges," he said.

He added that the proposal was sent to Ofid last month and they were expecting a response from the bank soon.

The initiative comes at a time when Kisumu is grappling with a solid waste menace - following the filling up of the Kachok dumpsite - that has threatened to cripple development.