The Murang’a County Government has flagged off newly acquired garbage collection trucks and skip loaders, expanding the county’s existing waste management fleet, to better address growing sanitation needs.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Mary Muthoni Magochi, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Irrigation, and Natural Resources, underscored the significance of the equipment in enhancing solid waste management across the County.
“These trucks bring the total number to three, and will play a critical role in improving waste collection and ensuring our County remains clean and healthy,” she said, while commending Governor Irungu Kang’ata for considering waste management as one of the major priorities of his Administration.
The CECM applauded the County Assembly for allocating sufficient funds to purchase the new equipment and called on Murang’a residents, to take personal responsibility for maintaining a clean environment.
“I urge all residents to sort their waste, reuse, and recycle where possible, to reduce the burden on our landfills and dumpsites. Waste is not just waste, it can be a valuable resource,” she noted.
Magochi revealed that her department has set-up a platform on its website for residents or investors to express interest in leasing land for waste recycling or composting projects, adding that part of the county’s sustainability efforts includes, converting plastic waste into diesel fuel.
Dr. Newton Mwangi, the County Secretary and Head of Public Service, applauded the partnership between the County government and the assembly in implementing progressive waste management policies.
“We appreciate the policies that have enabled this launch,” Dr. Mwangi said, adding, “I also urge the County to fast-track the establishment of a new landfill to address the health risks faced by those living near the current Murang’a town dumpsite,” he said.
Dinah Muthoni, Chairperson of the Environment, Energy, Forestry and Climate Change Committee at the County Assembly, reiterated the county’s commitment to improved waste disposal systems.
“Each of these trucks comes equipped with its own bin, which will help reduce littering across the County,” she explained.
“Murang’a is growing rapidly, with new municipalities and urban centers emerging. Our waste management capacity must grow with it,” she added.
She stated that the County has already positioned 35 bins across various areas, with plans underway to increase this number significantly in the coming months.
Muthoni concluded by announcing that a new policy on solid waste management that aims to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks around waste management and support long-term environmental sustainability in the County has been proposed to the County Assembly by the Environment Committee.
By Purity Mugo and Yvonne Mawia
