Governor Nassir to impose Sh500 waste collection levy in Mombasa

Households and businesses in Mombasa will be forced to pay a Sh500 monthly levy for solid waste collection and disposal.

Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said the executive plans to implement a law passed by the County Assembly, proposing the introduction of the levy in a bid to make Mombasa County clean.

Mr Thoya said the county will engage private companies to collect the garbage from all the households. However, the official could not indicate when the fee will take effect.

"We are going to privatize garbage collection and allow companies such as Mombasa Water and Sewerage Company, that would bill each household Sh500 for the service," said Thoya.

Mombasa is battling the problem of uncollected garbage blamed on the disorderliness of the residents. Thoya said the levy will instill discipline in solid waste disposal among the locals.

A study released by a Danish agency, Danida, six years ago revealed that the county produces 750 tonnes of waste daily. less than half of it is collected and mostly dumped at Kibarani and Mwakirunge.

Thoya warned residents who urinate or defecate along the streets that they would be arrested and prosecuted.

"We will not be lenient with anybody who urinates carelessly and dumps garbage on the road thinking it is the work of Governor Nassir and myself to collect it for them," said Thoya.

He was speaking at Ratna Square during a sensitization workshop on how to have a constructive dialogue between the private sector and other stakeholders on managing waste in the county.

The county, he said had constructed public toilets at strategic points in Mombasa town with the help of World Bank and there was no point in anybody failing to use the facilities.

"We have toilets in most parts of the town and there is no reason for one to urinate carelessly and later the residents start blaming Nassir and Thoya over the stench," said Thoya.

He asked members of the public to arrest such people and hand them over to the police for prosecution to keep Mombasa clean.

"If the city has a bad smell because of the bad behaviour of some people then we should not be blamed. We want every citizen to be responsible and have those with bad habits arrested," said Thoya.

Thoya explained that garbage collection was not the work of the county government insisting that in other parts of the World, it is done by private companies paid by households.

He said the privatization of garbage collection would also create jobs for the youth, adding that the program is already working in areas such as Nyali and Kizingo.