Waste management remains a significant issue in many areas, with the majority blaming the county government for the inefficiencies. However, some residents believe waste management is a shared responsibility between the government and the community.
During a World Clean Up Day event in Raila Estate, organized by youth groups in Kibera, residents shared their thoughts on the issue.
A local shopkeeper in her late 40s stated, “We have a designated area inside the estate for waste disposal, and the county government is supposed to collect it because we pay taxes.”
Young residents, Happiness and Erabella, both in their early 20s, emphasized the importance of personal responsibility. “Everyone should manage their waste at home by segregating it. This makes disposal easier and safer, but without a proper system, our efforts are wasted,” they said.
Waste segregation at the source is a key step toward effective management. Separating food waste, plastic, paper, and diapers allows for less frequent disposal. Food waste, which decomposes quickly and causes bad odors, can be discarded weekly, while other waste can be stored for longer.
However, the lack of proper facilities remains a challenge. Christine Sayo, founder of Let’s Do It Kenya, an initiative that educates communities on environmental care, highlighted this issue. “We ask people to separate waste, but without bins and proper planning, progress is slow. We’ve installed some bins with partner organizations, but in places like Kibera, where they’re needed most, we still face issues, including vandalism. Now, we have to place bins in more secure areas,” she explained.
Youth group Usafi Boys is one organization working to tackle the problem. They collect waste from Kibera households for 20 shillings per household and have encouraged some of their clients to start separating their waste.
“We provide households with sacks and a shared drum for food waste. This makes it easier to recycle plastics and paper, while food waste is given to local pig farmers for free,” said Ondabu Brian, a member of Usafi Boys.
