Waste management has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges in Trans Nzoia, with the county collecting more than 108 tonnes of waste weekly.

Trans Nzoia County Environmental focal person for the world bank, AFD, EU National and County government funded KISIP2 project Ms Diana Modani called for urgent sustainable solutions to curb pollution and health risks especially on the newly infrastructural development inthe five informal settlements in th County.

Speaking during a two-day sensitisation workshop, Ms. Diana Modani said 70 percent of the waste collected in the County is organic while 30 percent is inorganic, with 0.5kgs of waste collected from an individual every day.

“Poor disposal practices have led to blocked drainages, flooding, pollution of water streams, and rising health risks. We must act now,” she told participants.

The members of the Settlement executive commitee members (SEC),Grivance Redress Commitee (GRC) annd the County project implementation Commitee members (CPCT)have raised concerns over littering, blocked drainages and unsafe disposal of wastewater from the project five informal settlements including Matisi, Mitume, Shanti, Tuwan and Kipsongo A as the project comes to an end.

Environmental expert Ms. Grace Sila from NEMA said waste management is a shared responsibility. “The county government and municipalities must provide policies, budgets and equipment. Communities must segregate waste at household level, while private collectors and transporters ensure proper handling and disposal,” she said.

NEMA is enforcing the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, which requires mandatory segregation of waste into organic and non-organic categories using colour-coded containers.

Stakeholders highlighted their roles:

County Government: Policy, budget allocation, provision of bins and trucks.

Community Members: Segregation at household level, participation in forums, protection of public property.

Private Sector: Recycling, sensitisation campaigns, provision of PPEs.

NGOs and CBOs: Financial support, job creation, advisory services.

Manufacturers: Responsibility to produce environmentally friendly products under EPR.

Aggregators: Sorting, repurposing and processing of waste.

KISIP2 Project Coordinator Ms. Edith Baraza and Social Safeguards Officer Ms. Pamela Indimuli stressed that waste management is not just a government duty. “It is a shared responsibility. We are committed to keeping Kitale clean through segregation and recycling, working with both formal and informal collectors,” Ms. Baraza said.

The workshop came up with an action plan that includes:

Regular public participation forums in informal settlements.

Increased budgetary allocations for waste management tools and protective gear.

Expansion of sensitisation campaigns to promote household-level segregation.

Development of material recovery facilities to support recycling.

Training and capacity building for waste collectors, plot owners and tenants.

Stronger enforcement of by-laws against littering and vandalism.

Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms with clear timelines.

Officials said the county must invest in infrastructure such as skip bins, litter bins, waste trucks and protective gear to strengthen the system.