88 MOSES M. IKIARA, ANNE M. KARANJA AND THEO C. DAVIES
Increasingly, residential associations and their umbrella association, ‘We Can Do It’
are playing the important role of keeping the NCC and the Central Government on
their toes by demanding quality services and greater accountability. They are also
monitoring the quality of private solid waste collection service and organising
self-provision of not only solid waste collection but other services (such as security
and infrastructure) as well. The associations are becoming key change agents towards
sustainable solid waste collection, as they have arisen out of need and are led by highly
educated and visionary people.
Urban farmers
Urban agricultural activities including kitchen gardening are making a steadily
increasing contribution to the economic viability of the city’s solid waste collection
activities by absorbing a large amount of the organic waste that could have otherwise
ended up at the dumpsite (see chapter 12).
4.8. STAKEHOLDER VIEWS ON FUTURE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION POLICY
A stakeholder workshop was held on 8/16/2000. It attracted 31 participants, including
representatives of NCC, private solid waste collection companies, recycling enter-
prises, informal actors such as waste pickers and dealers, Ministry of Health, and
University of Nairobi. Stakeholders expressed their concerns and opinions on various
issues. Obviously they did not agree on each and every issue. Ultimately, however, the
following conclusions were reached with respect to solid waste collection:
- There was need for regular stakeholder meetings and consultations, and the NCC
was challenged to convene them. - Despite the positive contributions of the private sector and civil society organisa-
tions solid waste collection was deteriorating. Reuse and recycling of waste mate-
rials was deemed inadequate, conditions at the Dandora dump were considered
deplorable, and the problem of indiscriminate dumping was seen at a serious
threat to public health. Speedy implementation of the proposed dump relocation
to Ruai, however, was doubted. Poor infrastructure, in the form of poor roads,
traffic jams, and power and water rationing were seriously raising the operational
costs of private firms and waste recycling enterprises, thereby jeopardizing their
continued contribution to a more sustainable solid waste collection system. - The NCC’s primary role was to facilitate and regulate the other actors and to set a
level playing field for them. The NCC was, moreover, obliged to provide an effi-
cient solid waste collection service (either directly or through private providers)
as it collects waste charges from residents. - The private companies had an important role to play. Their involvement, how-
ever, required appropriate regulation both to smoothen their operations and to
protect the public interest. Although they were making a major contribution
already, they were accused of indiscriminate dumping. The private operators