The government is working tirelessly to improve the livelihoods of every Kenyan and to achieve Vision 2030 by developing the infrastructure framework.
Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director of Roads Transport and Public Works Eng. Michael Ochieng Owino said in order to make Nairobi a better place for all, NMS has already improved 250 Kilometres of roads in the informal settlements out of the targeted 408 kilometres.
Owino said the improved roads have made people living in Mukuru, Mathare, Kiambio, Kibera, Kawangware, Mihang’o, Dagoretti and other informal settlements of Nairobi have access to facilities like hospitals as well as quick fire responses.
“These roads have been interconnected to major roads thus improving delivery of goods in informal settlements,” said the Engineer, adding that already, NMS has built 31 hospitals with 22 of them operational, thereby improving the livelihoods of the people.
Speaking during the SemaNaSpox zoom meeting at Media centre, Telposta Building, NMS Water Services Assistant Director Eng. Stanley Githinji said due to Covid -19, NMS had to drill 193 boreholes, delivering 16000 litres of water in places where boreholes were not drilled for proper sanitation.
Regarding the sewer system, Githinji said in the Nairobi informal settlements, 100 kilometres of sewer system has already been put in place.
“A conventional sewerage system has also been developed to clean the Nairobi River that pass through the informal areas,” he added.
He said the government is also developing a northern water collector with a capacity of 140 million litres per day, targeting people living in the informal areas, which was expected to function later this year.
About garbage collection, Githinji said since NMS came into office March 2020, they have been collecting 3,000 tonnes of garbage daily as opposed to 1, 500 tonnes collected before.
However, Githinji noted that despite the improvement in garbage collection they have faced a challenge due to certain cultures adapted in waste management.
“Even those you would think are well educated, driving good cars still throw waste aimlessly. That is why NMS is looking forward to sensitizing people on waste management and come up with an enforcement team to make the city clean,” added Githinji.
He said the government through NMS shall be introducing a circular model of waste management which is meant to recycle waste by separating it into three bins then transporting them to the 17 material recovery centres.
This, Githinji said, is meant to reduce the amount of waste in the garbage centres. He urged citizens to be aware of the private waste management providers who are not registered.
In his remarks, the Government Spokesperson Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna echoed the NMS Engineers adding that the government is not only going to improve Nairobi County alone but also other counties.
“We cannot be a 21st century city with all this garbage and littering all-over. We should live in a clean and safe environment,” said Oguna.
He urged Kenyans to partner with NMS by contributing to the innovative ways as they try to tackle issues of security.
Salome Musango an NMS employee who lives in Mukuru kwa Njenga said life has really changed in informal settlements since they can access water freely, hospitals and other services.
“I thank the NMS for the good job they are doing. We now have toilets around us, we no longer use the sewage water to put off fires in case of any and also the roads have enough light so we can work day and night,” she said.
By Catherine Muindi and Teresa Rurigi
