The Machakos government on Tuesday launched an extensive garbage collection exercise in Mavoko sub-county.
The rigorous garbage collection operations began in Athi River town under the supervision of the area sub-county administrator, Onesmus Ituo.
The operations come barely a week since a section of politicians from the sub-county criticized the government for failing to effectively manage garbage in the region thereby leading to a Cholera outbreak.
More than five trucks were seen on Tuesday ferrying solid wastes from the town for confiscation, what some of the residents termed unusual arguing the heaps of garbage had been lying on the collection points for several months unattended to.
“I wonder why the Machakos government has to wait until Cholera outbreak is reported in the county for the trucks and shovel tractors to be deployed for garbage collection in the sub-county,” said resident Mary Ndunge.
Ndunge, a single mother who lives with her family at a slum within the town said the residents had in the past lodged several complaints to the government on the filthy conditions of most of their estates and slums due to an influx of garbage before the disease was reported only to land on deaf ears.
Several youths comprising of both males and females were also seen helping at the points to gather solid wastes before the shovel tractor loads them into the trucks.
A spot check conducted by this writer reveals that the government on the first day of the operations managed to completely clear garbage in three collection points, two located in Embakasi estate and another between the estate and Sofia Slum all within Athi River town.
A supervisor in charge of the operations who sought anonymity told this writer that they intended to clear garbage from all collection points within the town on Wednesday.
“We are working under too much pressure since we are expected to clear all garbage collection points in the town and estates alongside slums within its outskirts today. We worked till 8.00 pm last evening to beat the set deadline,” he said.
Several residents from the town expressed their satisfaction with the county government’s operations arguing they would reduce cases of disease outbreaks in the region.
They urged the leadership of the government to work on practical strategies that would ensure sustainability of effective garbage collection in the entire sub-county for maintenance of good hygiene and sanitation.