Report: Health of Kenyans at stake as counties turn a blind eye on waste management.

The county governments have been accused of putting the health of many Kenyans at risk by failing to fully execute their mandate of managing waste.

In a report, the National Environmental Complaints Committee (NECC) has claimed that there was inadequate budgetary allocation by the devolved units leading to disruption of collection, transportation and disposal of waste in counties especially urban areas.

As a result, many Kenyans were facing a risk of serious health consequences due to their exposure to asbestos, chemical-laced factory wastes and plastic wastes.

NECC, in a Report On Status of Solid Waste Management in Kenya, said challenges facing sound waste management across most counties have reached major proportions. The increasing levels of pollution is accelerated by the fast growth of Kenya’s economy and cities due to devolution.

“Low collection rates, illegal dumping and uncontrolled dumpsites are a major characteristic in solid management,” the report reads in parts.

The report reveals that Nairobi produces around 2,400 tons of waste each day, yet only 38 per cent is collected and less than 10 per cent recycle.

The findings further state about Nairobi, “The remaining 62 per cent is disposed of at the uncontrolled Dandora dumpsite, illegally dumped on roadsides and waterways, or burned releases toxic air emissions and particulate matter.”

The findings by the committee were drawn from an investigation in major cities in the Country including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru.

“The current poor state of waste management is a public health and environmental threat, a loss of a valuable resources for job and wealth creation, and an eyesore that negatively affects tourism and the wellbeing of all Kenyans,” the report reveals.

NECC argues that illegal dumping and burning were common in low-income areas of the city, which are home to over 2.5 million people who cannot afford waste collection services.

In their report, NECC established that sugar factories were discharging untreated effluent and bagasse leachate into rivers and lakes, posing health risks to people living along those water bodies.

“NEMA and WRA should conduct regular analyses of all the water sources near the companies, bagasse holding sites and effluent from the treatment plant to ensure that they meet the water quality standards,” NECC recommended in their report over the matter.

NECC also revealed that there have been complaints on environmental degradation due to poor handling of asbestos with Nyanza Provincial Hospital being on spotlight for having roofs made of asbestos.

“The scenario is rather worrying for the material used on the hospital’s roof keeps disintegrating, especially during rainy seasons,” said the report.

NECC recommended that the respective County Governments should acquire land to be used for disposal of asbestos within the county.

“Additionally, NEMA in conjunction with County Government and Public Health Officers should undertake intensive sensitization of the public on the best ways of handling asbestos,” the report recommended.