Kisii County urged to hand over waste collection to private sector

KENYA – The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has called on the Kisii County Government to cede waste collection services in Kisii Municipality to private entities, arguing that private sector involvement will improve efficiency, sustainability, and job creation.

Speaking at a waste management stakeholders’ workshop in Kisii, Nema County Director Simon Tonui said the time had come for municipalities to embrace the polluter-pays principle, as stipulated in Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022.

“It is time the County Government handed over waste collection to the private sector,” Tonui said.

“The new legal framework compels waste generators to pay for disposal and management. Get the County Government vehicles off the streets to dispel the notion that waste belongs to the municipality.”

Kisii County is finalizing the construction of a materials recovery facility (MRF), supported by the UK-funded Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) program.

The MRF will be operated by Green Leaf Services Company and is central to the county’s integrated waste management strategy.

Tonui commended Governor Simba Arati for decommissioning the Nyambera dumpsite, which had long been an eyesore and environmental hazard, and initiating plans to convert the site into a public recreational facility.

Private sector role in waste value chain

Green Leaf Services Director John Ngoitui said the firm is mapping waste service providers, zoning collection areas, and formalizing the value chain through technical training, entrepreneurship support, and market linkages.

“Our objective is to increase community participation in segregation of waste and ensure compliance by providing central collection points for recyclables,” said Ngoitui.

He added that the company has procured sorting and packaging equipment from India, set for installation within a month.

Grace Nyarango, the County Executive Committee Member for Lands and Urban Development, revealed that Kisii is finalizing a sustainable waste management policy, which will undergo public participation before implementation.

“We are working closely with stakeholders to align our policy with the National Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022 and to support private sector participation in the value chain,” she said.

Urban Development Director Kenan Miruka noted that the MRF will pave the way for waste-to-energy and waste-to-bio-fertilizer projects, strengthening the circular economy. He added that a robust public awareness campaign will be rolled out to support the program’s success.

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