New policy to address garbage menace in slums, says minister

By Edwin Cheserek

The Government is set to unveil a new policy to address the problem of waste management in slums, a minister has said.

Environment Assistant Minister Margaret Kamar said the strategy was at advanced stages and would soon be rolled out.

Prof Kamar conceded waste management in the informal sectors was a big challenge to the Government and added that measures should be put in place to address the issue.

Local authorities are unable to manage garbage in towns. Photo: File/Standard

"There is pressing concern to put in place measures to solve the problem in the affected areas once and for all," said the Eldoret East MP.

She said her ministry had partnered with that of Housing to address the long-standing problem of waste management bedevilling slums.

When the new policy comes into effect, said Kamar, dumpsites in towns and cities will be located far from settlements. "Most dumpsites located in residential areas thus causing a lot of health problems to residents," she said.

Hazardous dumpsites

Speaking at a prize-giving day at Maria Soti School in Keiyo South District, she said on Monday all civic bodies would be incorporated in the plan.

Citing slums in Eldoret town, Kamar said the problem was more serious because of poor management of solid waste by the local authorities.

The slums, she said, are characterised by poor sanitation, overcrowding and mostly located near hazardous dumpsites.