One of the collection bins. Youths in the area decry that the MCA is locking them out of their livelihoods. [Photo: Njeri Kimani]
Shabab residents have hit on their Member of county Assembly Kamau Githengi for interfering with garbage collection in the area.
The irate youth claimed that the MCA blocked the tender of garbage collection from youth groups in the area and instead registered his own company.
They further accused him of using the garbage collection trucks allocated by the county for campaigns, stating that most were already branded in his name.
The move has rendered more than 200 youth who used to collect trash every Saturday and recycle them jobless.
Each household in the area pays ksh 200 monthly, with an estimated 4000 households being under the payment scheme.
“He wants to paint the idea that he is behind the garbage collection business in the area. Yet, youth have for the last five years been collecting trash and recycling it under the St Joseph Youth Group. The youth also have used the initiative as a means to kill unemployment and hence it’s selfish of him to come and interfere with them,” said Kelvin Mwaura, a resident.
Now youth want government officials barred from getting such tenders, pointing out that many had leeway into getting the contracts from the Ministry of Environment.
“Many already have cash to bribe their way into landing juicy deals including even cleaning streets. All we have is our goodwill. It is the responsibility of the government to investigate the company that is tendering any bid and ensure that it is not linked to any politician,” said James Macharia, who is also in the garbage collection business.
Attempts to reach the MCA for a comment were unfruitful as his phone was off.