Refuse Concern for Mwatate Residents

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Raphael Mwadime

10 June 2011

A councillor in Taita has criticized the manner in which the council is handling refuse disposal in the area.

Arresmus Mwarabu of Mwatate ward lamented that Mwatate town has been strewn with garbage and accused the civic body of negligence.

Mwarabu said that the town which was also the county headquarters did not have garbage collection bins resulting to the locals having no alternative but to dispose the garbage recklessly. “By letting garbage pile up on the streets, the Council is being insensitive to the health of the locals.

This is also sending a bad picture to tourists who visit the area when on their way to Tsavo East national park,” lamented the councillor.

Mwarabu said despite the council officers rushing to collect conservancy fee and other taxes, the locals had nothing to show for it as the town remained in a sorry state.

Local residents have also expressed fears of looming diseases outbreak saying that on several occasions they find garbage dumped by traders outside their homes.

The residents lamented they are forced to brace the bad smell from decomposing vegetables that are dumped in their compounds by traders.

However, council clerk Allan Mabuka said the council will be purchasing a tipper-lorry with the capacity of loading seven tonnes to the tune of Sh7 million to counter the refuse disposal.

He said the civic body is finalizing the purchasing procedures and the tipper will arrive any time soon and added that plans are also afoot to set up several garbage bins in Mwatate town in a bid to solve the problem. “We know that there is a problem but when the tipper arrives we shall be able to solve it,” said Mabuka.

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