CS Duale Orders All Kenyan Garbage Trucks To Have Trackers
This directive will ensure that garbage collectors operating the trucks will be held accountable by the government for the transportation of waste from collection points at residences to the allocated disposal sites.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday, November 11 directed that all garbage trucks nationwide are to be tracked. This will be achieved through a document issued by the National Environment Management Authority of Kenya (NEMA).
The CS announced this while issuing a statement on the National Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 which requires households to separate their waste. Here, households in Kenya are set to receive three colour-coded bags: green for organic waste, blue for dry recyclables and red for hazardous items.
"Waste collection trucks pick up these separated items, transporting them to a Material Recovery Facility with two main chambers for sorting: one for wet and one for dry waste, while hazardous red-bagged waste is sent for incineration.
"To ensure traceability, waste trucks will carry a NEMA-issued tracking document and follow designated routes to disposal sites," announced Duale in part.
CS Aden Duale during a meeting with UNHCR Kenya Country Director Caroline van Buren on October 7, 2024. /ADEN DUALE
This directive will ensure that garbage collectors operating the trucks will be held accountable by the government for the transportation of waste from collection points at residences to the allocated disposal sites.
Regarding industrial pollution, the CS revealed that NEMA has identified 145 facilities along the Nairobi River basin that release untreated industrial waste due to malfunctioning Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP).
Per his sentiments, the 145 industries, slaughterhouses, sewerage systems and real estate without functioning ETPs contribute to 90 per cent of the pollution of the country's Rivers.
Emphasising the need for environmental conservation, the CS explained that over the years, informal settlements have been blamed for polluting the rivers in Nairobi due to their proximity. However, details have emerged that informal settlements only contribute one per cent to the pollution of the Rivers.
"NEMA has mapped out all these non-compliant facilities, given them restoration orders and all are candidates for closure until they fully comply," he added.
He further noted that waste from informal settlements, which is primarily organic (less than 1% industrial), can be managed sustainably using bio-digesters.
"Kenya's new policies aim to shift from a linear economy of "use and dispose" to a circular economy where waste is viewed as a resource. By recycling and reusing materials, Kenya seeks to transform waste into wealth, driving sustainable development," he added.
Duale on Thursday, October 10 began shifting his attention to garbage collection companies contracted by the Nairobi County government, accusing them of illegal dumping practices which end up polluting the Nairobi River.
He thus directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Nairobi County Government to deal with those polluting the river and ensure that there will be no more dumping of garbage inside the Nairobi water stream.
