KISUMU LEADERS FIGHT OVER DAMP SITE RELOCATION.

Mar 10, 2015 William Adoyo News 0

There is a lot of push and pull in the decommissioning of Kachok Dump site to Kibigori  which is in Chemelil ward, this comes after the France Government  gave Kisumu county 800 million grant under Kisumu Urban Project (KUP) to be used in the decommissioning that the city manager says to begin in few weeks time amid  myriad challenges they are facing over now.

The  garbage which is at the entrance of the city is set to be removed and taken 45 kilometers away in Kibigori Chemelil ward of Kisumu so that the city can attract investors .

Kisumu city Manager Mrs. Doris Ombara said that despite the myriad challenges they are out to see the dumpsite relocated to Kibigori.

“We have challenges here locally but I beg our leaders to help me pull strings together and start working for the betterment of the county residents that individual with vested interests over this garbage issue” said the City Manager Ombara.

Speaking to Kisumu County Key stakeholders at The Vic Hotel during Kachok dumpsite decommissioning audit report validation, said that if the funds are left to go back then it will be very difficult for  her office to get another grant to remove that garbage at Kachok but the residents to live with it.

The Kisumu County Assembly Deputy Majority John Osumba Olum said that the issue of implementation should take a lead role and organize the workshops after to tell people that what we implemented.

Deputy Majority Leader In Kisumu County Assembly Hon. Osumba Olum

‘We urge you to go ahead and implement these projects since they are what the people want to see and not too many talks that at the end will not materialize”. Said Osumba Olum

“If this project fails then we will be all considered as failures by the virtue of we are the leaders who should push for this kind of investment to take place and stop politicizing everything”  Osumba Olum.

Sources close to this project says that Chemelil Ward representative is opposing the dumpsite relocation to Kibigori and that’s why the project has not kicked off despite the French government are waiting the Kisumu county to put their house in order so that they can wire the funds or they take their money back in two weeks time.

Chemelil Ward Representative David Hon. Osano said that he is not opposing the project but he is just against the way the city manager is trying to run the project.

Hon. Osano said that we are all leaders in this county and everybody has his or her constituents to represent, and as a representative I have not been consulted on what is going to happen in my area and even there has not been any publicly participation on this, in an area where they want to take this garbage to, I am just leaning all these through face book handle which is not good.

I have not been told anything by the City Manager Madam Doris ombara who is running the project on behalf of the county.

“This project needs public participation, awareness on how they will live with the garbage near them  and more importantly engage them on how they will benefit , not starting the project only to come and find that the locals are not incorporated, we want them to incorporate the locals” said Osano.

The validation report by the Africa Waste Management Center (AWEMAC) seen by Kisumu News also pointed out that there is need for public participation to help locals embrace the project something which has not been done.

Recently Kisumu city manager said that the Kachok dump site is a health hazard to Kisumu residents that must be removed where she added that fumes from the dump site may be leading to lifestyle diseases such as cancer.

“The fumes that come from the Kochak dump site affect the health area residents and the businesses around it,” said the acting city boss said.

“I know powerful people in politics are using Kachok dump site as a benchmark to show that the city manager and the governor are not working,” she said.

“You cannot be an obstacle, rebelling the projects. We have to change our attitude.” Said City manager.

• city manger, Dampsite, decommisioning, Kackock