Uncollected garbage lying along the Mombasa-Malindi road in Shanzu area. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala]
The Active Environment Team has opposed a proposal by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho to charge residents more taxes to manage garbage within the county.The lobby chairman Benson Wemali said implementing the move without any proper plans and stakeholder involvement will only result in victimisation of residents and investors in the county.According to Wemali, the county has adequate resources to manage solid waste but lacks proper planning and relevant measures in managing solid waste.Speaking at the organisations’ office at Tononoka in Mombasa on Tuesday, Wemali said before Joho imposes any charges on locals and the business community, he should first explain how the solid waste will be removed from residential areas and the Central Business District.Wemali said the business community is already suffering following an increase in the amount required to obtain a business license, addingthat charging them an extra amount in the name of managing solid waste was uncalled for.“How can we be assured of a safe and clean environment even after we cough more from our pockets. The county needs to reverse such plans and involve residents and the business community before implementing them,” he said.Wemali said the garbage menace in the coastal city requires proper public participation in forums conducted across the county and environmental experts’ full involvement in the process.“By now the county should have rolled out its 2018 environmental plans and assure us of a safe environment that is habitable for all and not engage us in taxation issues,” he added.On Monday, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho households and businesses in the county will soon begin paying for the solid waste they generate.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Mombasa County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by joining this group and have it published. http://bit.ly/2BipYa6