Nairobi County doesn’t fully own Dandora dumpsite, report shows
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s plan to subsidise a multi-billion dollar waste-to-energy plant at the Dandora dumpsite has once again run into a major challenge.
While the project is still in the planning stage, the procurement process has been challenged in court and, as it awaits judgment, it has emerged that the county only has partial title deeds to the dump site.
The Auditor General’s report shows that out of about 50 acres, the county only has title deeds for 15.02 acres, while 34.98 acres have no title deeds.
“In these circumstances, failure to secure the county’s assets may expose them to loss or misappropriation, and may also limit the county’s ability to provide services to the public,” the Auditor General said in the audit report for the financial year ending June 30, 2023.
The court had previously ordered that the dumpsite be moved from Dandora, citing health concerns for residents.
The current administration, however, ignored this and went ahead with its plans to convert the waste into energy, which would have also benefited the residents.
During his election campaigns, the governor promised to clear the waste in the area, a promise that remains unfulfilled almost two years after his inauguration.
This is also evident in the continued operation of illegal dumpsites throughout the city, despite the matter being brought to the attention of the county leadership.
One of the major illegal dumpsites is along Likoni Road, which has been blamed for flooding in the industrial area every time it rains because it has blocked the drainage line. Another is in the Satellite area, which has drawn complaints from residents.
In his recent State of the County address, the governor said that since he took office, he had been able to collect more than 400,000 tonnes of waste and clean up the city.
Despite his promise, garbage continues to pile up at Muthurwa market and in some areas of the country.
The Auditor General has also raised concerns about the poor waste management system, saying that the county has paid contractors whose equipment has exceeded its contracted capacity, making it difficult to confirm the effectiveness of the system.