COLLECTION,TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL IN NAIROBI 65
With respect to the privatisation of solid waste collection services official attitudes are
positive even though no law has been enacted as yet to guide, monitor, and regulate
the process (Republic of Kenya, 2000). However, the Local Government Act
empowers LAs to contract out services (Section 143) and the Environmental Manage-
ment and Coordination Act (1999) provides for an institution (NEMA) to license
waste transportation, establishment of waste disposal sites and generation of
hazardous waste.
4.3. ORGANISATION OF SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES
Numerous actors are involved in Nairobi’s solid waste management system (see
Figure 4.1). Broadly, the actors could be grouped into those making policy and those
implementing or affecting it as the figure shows. In the subsequent analysis the roles
and performance of various actors is elucidated.
Policy-makers
The MOLG is charged with the role of policy formulation, providing technical assist-
ance to LAs, and supervisory oversight and guidance. Moreover, the City Clerk (who
is responsible for policy implementation and executive duties) is accountable to the
MOLG. NCC councillors formulate solid waste collection policies through the Envi-
ronment Committee. There is no clear demarcation of MOLG’s and NCC’s roles and
powers, as is evident from the preceding section. MOLG has performed poorly with
respect to supervisory oversight, guidance and capacity building and usurps the role
of NCC, for example, in rehabilitation of urban roads (NCC, 2000).
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) also makes policy
related to solid waste collection. It is responsible for overall environmental manage-
ment, which includes pollution and waste management. Over the period 2000-2003,
for instance, MENR is expected to implement environmental standards on air, water
and land, promote community based waste management programmes, provide incen-
tives for informal sector waste management, and develop environmental partnership
with stakeholders such as NGOs and CBOs, among other tasks (Republic of Kenya,
2000). However, the impacts of its policies are still marginal.
The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999) has introduced new
institutions for environmental management. A National Environment Council (NEC)
is envisaged for policy formulation, setting of national environmental goals and objec-
tives, and promotion of environmental cooperation while a NEMA is envisaged for
general supervision, coordination, and implementation of all environmental matters
and policies. Moreover, a Standards and Enforcement Review Committee of NEMA
is planned to advice NEMA on environmental standards, including standards for waste
disposal methods and means. The committee will, in addition, issue regulations for