The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has commended Kisii County for its efforts to improve waste management, saying the initiatives have contributed to cleaner neighborhoods and the transformation of public spaces in Kisii Municipality and other urban centres.
Speaking during the 2026 World Cleanup Day celebrations at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), Head of UN-Habitat for the East and Horn of Africa Sub-Region Ishaku Maitumbi said the county’s waste management interventions were helping promote cleaner and more sustainable urban settlements.
Maitumbi said the initiatives, including development of green parks and public spaces, were also creating opportunities for young people while improving the quality of life for residents.
He said municipalities and towns in Kenya generate between 0.3 and 0.45 tonnes of waste per day, while Kisii generates about 0.25 tonnes daily.
“As such, improving the waste management system remains critical to protecting lives, strengthening communities and building cities whose impacts are felt by everyone,” Maitumbi said.
He pledged continued collaboration between UN-Habitat and the county government to support sustainable waste management initiatives and ensure that communities benefit from cleaner and better-planned urban areas.
Governor Simba Arati said rapid population growth and urbanization experienced in Kisii over the past decade had significantly increased the amount of waste generated, particularly in Kisii Municipality and other major urban centres.
He said the growing waste burden had strained existing infrastructure, resulting in indiscriminate dumping, accumulation of uncollected waste, environmental pollution and increased public health risks.
“This has strained existing government infrastructure leading to indiscriminate dumping, piles of uncollected waste, environmental pollution and public health risk,” Arati said.
The governor said the county government had consequently started implementing measures provided for under the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022, including segregation of waste at source and establishment of mechanisms for materials recovery.
Among the interventions is the decommissioning of the Nyambera dumpsite and establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre with support from the UK Government through the Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) programme.
The relocation of the dumpsite has also enabled the county to establish Etaya Governors Park, a recreational and entertainment facility intended to provide residents with a public space for relaxation and social activities.
Arati said the MRF has the capacity to process 50 tonnes of waste per day, while a Black Soldier Fly unit at the facility can process an additional 10 tonnes of organic waste to produce protein-rich animal feed and organic fertiliser.
He called on the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and Producer Responsibility Organisations to support the establishment of waste collection and buy-back centres in Kisii to improve recycling and provide a market for recovered materials.
The governor also cited the county’s Kazi Mashinani programme, through which young people and women are contracted to undertake regular clean-up activities, unclog storm-water drainage systems and clear bushes in different parts of the county.
“We have also acquired modern waste management equipment and machinery, including truck-mounted skip loaders and colour-coded bins to aid in source segregation and safe transportation of waste,” he said.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke, congratulated Kisii County for hosting the international clean-up event, saying the transformation of public spaces and waste management infrastructure demonstrated the impact of sustained investment in urban development.
Isaboke said the county’s waste management initiatives, including the MRF, should be supported as part of broader efforts to improve living conditions and create opportunities for young people.
He also linked the clean-up initiative to the national government’s efforts to expand opportunities for young people through programmes aimed at improving their participation in economic activities.
Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o said she would share some of the practices witnessed in Kisii with neighbouring Nyamira County, particularly initiatives that combine environmental cleanliness with public recreation and opportunities for revenue generation.
Nyakang’o said public spaces could provide residents with areas to meet and socialise while also contributing to local economic activity.
She said county governments should also explore ways of making their investments in public spaces sustainable through appropriate revenue-generation mechanisms.
The World Cleanup Day celebrations began with a clean-up exercise involving residents and environmental stakeholders at the Kisii Main Stage before participants moved to the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre for the main event.
The event brought together county and national government officials, development partners, elected leaders, environmental stakeholders and members of the public to highlight the need for collective action in addressing waste management challenges.
Arati said the county would continue scaling up its waste management interventions in partnership with UN-Habitat, the national government and other stakeholders, with a focus on improving urban cleanliness, while creating opportunities for women and young people.
by Misheba Alfred and Mercy Osongo
