Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye (second L) and Kiambu county officials at Kang’oki dumpsite in Thika town on Wednesday. Photo: The Star, Kenya

Kiambu, Kenya 26 February 2016- The county government of Kajiado in Kenya is exploring ways in which UN-Habitat and UNEP can help it address waste management issues. Governor David Ndekenyie last month met with UN-Habitat and UNEP staff explore solutions to the growing waste management challenge in the County, and to share lessons on the waste management experience in Kenya.

Kajiado is exploring active, long-term and sustainable approaches to manage urban waste in the fast growing towns in the County. The County expressed its interest in exploring successful waste management techniques that have been adopted by other counties in Kenya. UN-Habitat shared its experiences piloting a semi-aerobic sanitary landfill in the Kenyan town of Thika in collaboration with the County Government of Kiambu.

Though the project has yet to be formally launched, with a series of milestones completed including the completion of excavation, earthworks, leachate pond construction, drainage trenching and installation of pipes and completion of external works, the landfill is the first of its kind in all of Africa to successfully pilot the Fukuoka waste management method. Additionally with a capacity to receive up to 1000 tons of waste per day, and a simple, cost effective and locally sourced system of ventilation, the pilot project holds great promise for reducing the volume of leachate pollutants and toxic gases frequently associated with unsanitary landfills or dump sites.

At the end of the meeting, the Governor reaffirmed his commitment to partner with UN-Habitat to improve waste management in the Kajiado. Governor Nkedianye, noted that Kiambu’s experience provides great hope for collaboratively addressing the urban waste problem, and creating a platform for other counties to learn, adopt and even cut and paste Kiambu’s waste management strategies if possible. He also added that Kajiado County hopes to gain even more insight into Kiambu County’s experiences in launching a semi-aerobic landfill and is committed to engage UN-Habitat to explore the viability of adopting similar waste management interventions in Kajiado.

Source: unhabitat.org