Drama unfolded on Friday September 6, 2024 at Bondeni’s Affordable Housing in Kivumbini Ward after two Environmental Youth groups claimed the rights of garbage collection in the Affordable Housing units.
Eco Thinkers Environmental group claims they have the rights to collect garbage at the Kings Saphire Affordable Housing as they are the real youths from Paul Machanga Estate that borders the Affordable Housing units.
Led by Vice Chair Abdala Muigai, the group stated that they had been collecting garbage at the then PIDA estate where the Affordable Housing units were constructed.
However, the project stopped after the Affordable Housing came into place as the public works houses were demolished to pave way for the Affordable Housing units.
He said they are surprised that the tender was given to another group that they term as visiting group.
This, they blame the County Government of Nakuru’s Chief Officer Environment Ken Mungai.
According to them, the Chief Officer shortchanged them, a move they said they will not allow.
They have now vowed to stop the collection of garbage from the Affordable Housing units by the other group that they say are not members of Paul Machanga Estate.
“We will not allow this to continue in this estate. we call on Governor Susan Kihika to intervene in this matter,” stated the Vice chair.
Sentiments echoed by Machanga Eco Thinkers Environmental group Organizing Secretary Denis Kai.
He noted that during the construction of the Affordable Housing, they went into agreement with the management to allow them be in charge of garbage collection and sanitation at the units.
A letter to the Environment docket county government of Nakuru a week ago confirms the same.
However, the response they received was not appealing to them.
According to the Organizing Secretary of the group, the Chief Officer informed them that there was zoning aspect that blocked them out.
He noted that, a move to bar then from collecting garbage in the Affordable Housing units will be a blow to the many youth who rely on the group for their livelihood.
“We are surprised when the Chief Officer talks of zoning as a hindrance to us. We are the youth of this estate and we have the rights to collect garbage as was agreed,” he stated.
Dishon Opuru- a resident of Paul Machanga Estate and a members of the Machanga Eco Thinkers Environmental Group says the Affordable Housing units should give back to the immediate neighborhood which is Paul Machanga Estate.
Opuru who is also a person living with disability wondered why the contract was being awarded to outsiders.
“Let our Governor intervene to save the many youth who rely on this garbage collection project,” he said.
Sentiments echoed by Jane Maina, Deviniah Nyandiko and Beatrice Wanjiru from Paul Machanga Estate.
They called on Governor Kihika to intervene and ensure Paul Machanga Estate residents benefit from the Affordable Housing that borders the estate.
This, even as another group dubbed Forest Youth Group maintained that they are the ones with the rights to collect garbage at Affordable Housing units next to Paul Machanga Estate.
Mercy Ochieng’ in charge of the group stated that her group has been collecting the garbage at the estate even before the affordable housing project came into place.
