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Kenya

Vision Dandora recreational park

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 11 – Plans are ongoing to convert the Dandora dumpsite into a recreational park following placement of an international tender inviting partners for the exercise.

According to a statement by the City Council of Nairobi (CCN), dumping will be relocated to Ruai after a three year decommissioning process.

CCN Environment Director Isaac Muraya said the exercise scheduled to start early next year is expected to cost about Sh600 million.

“Through an advert placed in the dailies, the council has invited a public private partnership on decommissioning of Dandora,” he said.

The Dandora dumpsite has been an eyesore posing a serious threat to the environment, health, education and livelihood of about 900,000 slum dwellers who live nearby.

The dumpsite is about 32 acres and it has existed for about 30 years. About 900 metric tonnes of garbage are deposited their daily.

Mr Muraya said: “Indiscriminate waste disposal practices take place at the site at the moment. All mixed types of waste are disposed without proper separation hence posing a health hazard to the residents. The toxic waste mixed together with municipal waste accounts for 62.8 percent of the organic waste, meaning that about 30 percent of the waste is non biodegradable.”

He said the decommissioning will entail physical improvement of the site, including improved drainage, extraction of harmful gases, beautification and landscaping.

According to the Nairobi Central Business District Association Chairman Timothy Muriuki, the dump is a multi-billion shilling business, “but only benefits a few selfish and heartless individuals who are dumping death on poor people.”

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In a past interview with Capital news, Mr Muriuki said the social cost implications of the site were too heavy to bear and the government could not afford to continue keeping the dump and dehumanising people living near there.

The government about nine years ago ordered for the closure of the dumpsite, but it is alleged powerful cartels and other selfish interests have gripped the process.

Meanwhile, in its bid to improve its services, the Council has announced plans to set up a one-stop centre that will allow people to get all licenses at one place.

In a statement, Nairobi City Council Public Relations Officer Wilfred Marube said the multimedia contact centre will provide basic council services from early next year.

Town Clerk Philip Kisia said the centre would ensure efficient service delivery and save customers of the time they waste moving from office to office.

He said about two thousand employees from different departments at the council are set to undergo training in customer care services and basic public relation skills.

Mr Kisia further said the centre will be one of the interventions being introduced to change the tainted image of the council.
 

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