Eldoret quickly losing solid waste collection and management battle

By Titus Too

Street children and pigs have taken advantage of a huge dumping site building up hourly due to rising population in Eldoret town.

Every approach of vehicles with garbage and waste at Kipkenyo dumpsite near Huruma estate is a great attraction to the urchins and pigs.

Waste disposal management in the town is still a major challenge especially in residential areas, some hotels, and health facilities. Residents of some of the estates like the populous Langas, Huruma, Mwanzo, Bacon, and Shauri Moyo have raised concern that they are exposed to health hazards due to uncollected garbage.

Boniface Kiptoo, a resident of Langas says some private companies tendered to collect waste have neglected their responsibilities leading to mounting garbage in some residential areas. "Due to neglect by companies tendered to dispose waste, sometimes we are forced to hire services elsewhere to clear the mounds of garbage," he says.

The town, which is the commercial and industrial hub of the North Rift, is expanding at a very fast rate. The council, residents allege only concentrates its waste management in the Central Business District (CBD).

Netherlands firm

"Just visit the estates and it is a far cry from what one encounters in the CBD," said Philip Koech, a Mwanzo resident.

Industries and institutions like hospitals have not been compelled to carry out effective waste disposal.

But as the Eldoret municipal council tries its efforts to clear the town of waste, the site where the garbage is dumped at Kipkenyo near Huruma is open and poses a major environmental catastrophe.

The council has often admitted it cannot handle waste management on its own. It put up newspaper adverts inviting bids to partner with them in waste management. These efforts have however not bore fruits.

Eldoret Mayor William Rono said the council acquired a lorry last week that would be used in managing waste disposal. Rono, however, said the council had entered into an agreement with a Netherlands firm that will recycle waste.

"Once the firm comes in, it will recycle and assist reduce the amount of waste. We have also expanded the dumpsite at Kipkenyo by another two and a half acres," he said.

Heaps of waste at Kipkenyo is not segregated and all forms of waste matter including medical waste, garbage, waste from hotels, and salons among others, are evident.

Residents have expressed fear that there is the danger of some waste material flowing into the rivers.