Iten municipality has acquired a garbage compactor truck at a cost of Sh.13 million in efforts aimed at keeping the town clean.
Speaking when he commissioned the truck, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich said since independence, the town has been relying on tractors to collect garbage which was not only expensive but also not environmentally friendly.
Rotich called on residents to report to those concerned cases of any uncollected garbage saying it was important to maintain cleanliness for the residents and also in keeping with its athletic fame as is known world over and therefore the importance of reflecting its international status.
He, however, expressed regret that Iten town still does not have a dumping site saying it has been using a temporary one. He said he will be calling a public participation meeting to identify a place for the same saying it was sad that all public utility plots in Iten town have been grabbed.
The Iten Municipality board chair Michael Kures said they are seeking to acquire at least 5 acres for a dumping site adding that they will also require an incinerator for garbage recycling to enhance modern methods of garbage management.
While noting that the county does not have enough money for the establishment of a sewerage system, the governor said he will be looking for partners who can fund the same saying with a sewerage system in place, the town will witness development.
“A proper sewerage and waste management system will greatly help in attracting investors to the town and in the process provide employment to the people,” the governor said.
The governor said the county was spending a huge chunk of its funds on wage bill and therefore he cannot promise to hire more personnel as this would mean eating into development funds which will be detrimental to its development agenda.
“If I were to hire more people in the county government, then it will mean that we will not do anything else apart from paying salaries,” he said.
He assured the residents that he was looking for investors who will establish factories where they will get market for their produce as well as offer employment to the residents.
Rotich said that he has established a department in charge of cooperatives where funds for the hustler fund will be channeled to from the national government and which they will get as loans to fund their business enterprises.
He however said only those in groups/cooperative societies will access the funds saying they will not be advanced to individuals.
“I am therefore calling on each one of you to join a cooperative society to benefit from the hustler fund,” he said. He added that officers from the cooperative department will be offering training to groups.
By Alice Wanjiru and Xavier Allan
