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Maragua MP Mary Waithira has proposed the privatisation of the Mitumbiri landfill, saying this will ensure efficiency in waste management.

According to the legislator (left), should the county government not be in a capacity to run the facility, it should be given to a private firm.

The MP said she has held negotiations with area governor Irungu Kang’ata over the issue but the latter has not given a final submission on the matter.

She observed that the county will be required to buy new garbage trucks that are covered to avoid having garbage littered along the roads as well as curbing air pollution.

“The county government is supposed to buy modern trucks to be used in transporting the waste,” she said.

She added that locals must be given priority for the job opportunities that will be created when the facility becomes operational.

Delayed delivery

“Part of the agreement to have the landfill done here was to have the locals employed to work at the facility and this must be adhered to,” she said, while responding to claims that people from outside the area have been going for training.

She maintained that it would be very wrong if local residents were short-changed.

The MP also lamented over delayed completion of the facility, saying it has been under construction for close to six years. The construction of Sh1.2 billion facility commenced in 2018 and was scheduled to be completed by 2020 but more than four years later, it’s yet to be handed over.

The project was being undertaken by the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project (NAMSIP) but it’s delayed completion has raised questions among leaders.

Initially there was fierce resistance from the locals who opposed the landfill saying it would have negative environmental impact in the area but after a series of meetings they gave a green light for its construction.

The landfill will be in use for 25 years taking 250,000 tons of waste every day.