KENYA – The Turkana County Government will collaborate with a Japanese non-governmental organization (NGO) known as Peace Wind Japan to explore ways of enhancing waste management systems in Turkana.
The County Executive for Tourism, Culture, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Francis Mariao, chaired a consultative meeting to plan a roadmap for the implementation of the three-year program.
The project’s objective is to reduce waste in the community through solid waste recovery and re-use to reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment and human health.
The Japan government-funded project will have a multi-sectoral approach involving the government, UN agencies, and private sector climate stakeholders.
Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) is an NGO dedicated to the support of people in distress and threatened by conflict, poverty, or other turmoil.
The target areas for the project are Kakuma town, Kalobeyei town, Kakuma refugee camp, and Kalobeyei settlement camps. Some 140 bins, 24 collection sites, and 13 transfer stations will be established.
The County Executive member informed the stakeholders that the government had embraced the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 and welcomed the partnership that he said would be a game changer in waste management.
In February this year, Nakuru announced that it was seeking to partner with Austrian firm, Komptech to manage solid waste at dumpsites and turn it into useful byproducts such as organic fertilizers.
The move was announced by Dr. Nelson Maara, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Water, Environment, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change asserting that the county government is committed to resolving the garbage problem afflicting the residents.
According to him, other materials like glass, paper, plastic and metals will be recycled if a deal is reached between the devolved unit and an Austrian firm, Komptech.
During a meeting with the Komptech firm’s Chief Executive Mr. Markus Maierhofer at the county headquarters, the CECM noted that the county stands to increase its revenue base and create more jobs besides improving health and sanitation for millions of residents once the deal is sealed.
Maara disclosed that the county government had commenced talks with the investor, but added they were yet to settle on the cost of the project and assured residents that all solid waste would be transformed into useful items including organic fertilizers.
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