16 | NEWSFOCUS SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke WORLD HABITAT DAY Municipal Solid Waste Management Global Observance of World Habitat Day Date: Monday 1 October 2018 | Venue: UNON, Gigiri, Nairobi Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport Infrastructure Housing Urban Development & Public Works James Macharia Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure Housing and Urban Development This year, Kenya is privileged to host the global observance of World Habitat Day, 14 years since the last one that Kenya hosted in 2004. The State Department for Housing and Urban Development in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works being the national focal point on housing and human settlements matters coordinates stakeholders in the observance of this World Habitat day. Kenya Government has made remarkable milestones in addressing matters related to this year’s theme. Under the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and Public Works. The Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) under the big four agenda targets to deliver 500,000 units in the next five years. The programme is comprehensive and is planned to include provision of infrastructure and sanitation which includes solid waste management. This will address the challenge of solid waste given that a big percentage of waste emanates from households. The Government has formulated Policies, legislation and strategies under the relevant Ministries of Environment and Forestry and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). Some of these include the ban on manufacture, use and importation of plastic carrier bags by the Government which took effect from 28th August 2017. The ban has yielded impressive results with a success of about 85% and largely contribute to a cleaner environment. In July 2018, we signed the Habitat Country Programme Document (HCPD 20182021) to guide UN-Habitats activities in Kenya. Kisii County is an example of our collaboration with UN-Habitat under the HCPD whereby a solid waste management strategy has been developed with the aim of creating employment opportunities for the youth through recycling of waste. Other counties undertaking serious solid waste management programs include Nairobi, Nakuru, Kitui, Marsabit, and Murang’a. Other organizations have also complemented Government efforts and include Kenya Association of Manufacturers, who have committed to undertake measures to encourage recycling and re-use of plastic bottles across the country to promote effective management of plastic bottles; The Flip Floppy innovators based in Lamu County, have an innovative initiative of constructing boats using plastic waste. I commend all partners who have contributed in addressing the solid waste menace in Kenya. All these innovations need to be documented and scaled up for replication countrywide, for better results. Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing & Urban Development one of the member states of the United Nations. Other Member states are expected to observe the day in their respective countries. Charles Hinga Mwaura The Principal Secretary State Department for Housing and Urban Development World Habitat Day (WHD) is an international day observed on the first Monday of October every year. This Day was designated by Resolution 40/202 A of 17th December 1985 of the United Nations General Assembly. The day is commemorated annually, with a global observance taking place in Observance of the day provides a platform for all United Nations member states to reflect and take stock of the status of housing and human settlements, share best practices and together identify practical solutions to challenges encountered in their efforts to provide shelter, related basic services and improvement of human settlements matters in general. This year’s theme is a reminder that poorly managed solid waste poses a lot of negative effects to our environment. Failure to properly manage solid waste is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation in urban areas across the Country. Contrary to this, proper waste management results in positive impacts that include high aesthetic value of land and environment, wealth creation and improved livelihoods, crime reduction; improved drainage, improved health conditions, and housing conditions among others. We take note of the initiatives by all stakeholders in addressing solid waste management and thank all who putting in efforts in making World Habitat day a success as we look forward to continued collaboration on this and other endeavors. United Nations Executive Director Each Year on the first Monday of October, the world celebrates World Habitat Day. This is the day for each of us to examine the state of our cities, towns and villages, to see how we can make our lives better, as a community. UN-Habitat as the United Nations agency for cities and human settlements is mandated to improve the quality of life of people, in their communities. I am delighted that this year, Kenya, the host country for UN-Habitat headquarters, will be co-hosting the Global Observance of World Habitat Day with us. The theme of World Habitat Day 2018 is Municipal Solid Waste Management – a global issue that affects everyone. The amount of rubbish and waste produced by individuals, communities, factories, businesses, markets and institutions grows daily. Every year, two billion tonnes of solid waste is produced. The rate of waste generation is expected to double by 2025. Waste needs to be disposed off properly, to protect the environment and people’s health. But it is extremely expensive to dispose off rubbish and other waste. As a former mayor, I know that local authorities sometimes spend over half of their budgets doing so. This is money, which can be spent on other, equally important services. Equally worrying is the fact that two billion people – nearly one out of every three in the world – do not receive regular waste collection services. This means the rubbish they produce is burned, or dumped in the streets, on land that could be used for other public spaces, or into drains and rivers. This discarded rubbish can cause flooding, pollution and health hazards. Uncontrolled dumpsites become breeding grounds for insects and animals, which transmit diseases. Burning rubbish causes respiratory diseases and pollution. We need a change in public attitude urgently, in order to reduce the amount of waste that we produce. We must be more aware of the effect of using disposable plastic cups and utensils at a picnic, or throw out items that we no longer use. We must take responsibility for what we consume, and for what we throw out. Let us use our own bottles and cups instead of disposable ones, and reuse, repair or share items instead of throwing them away. Cities and National Governments, the public and private sector should work together, with community based organizations, to reduce waste and expand recycling as well as ensure waste is collected and disposed of properly. Cities with growing economies should ensure public services such as waste collection and disposal is financially sustainable, by charging users or through taxes. This will facilitate the growth of a greener economy, reducing and reusing waste and creating jobs. Our solutions to waste management must be inclusive, remembering also the effects on the poorest communities, and most vulnerable citizens. Authorities must work with informal waste-pickers who make a living out of collecting and selling waste materials that they can find in dumpsites and rubbish heaps. This would be a win-win for both sides. Globally, there are several international frameworks on solid waste management: the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agenda, and the New Urban Agenda all recognize the importance of this issue. Here in Kenya, UN-Habitat, with support from the Italian Government, is working in Kajiado County with the Government to develop an innovative waste-to-energy Maimunah Mohd Sharif General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat plant. In Kisii, UN-Habitat has supported a project providing employment for young people who make innovative articles from waste. Under the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation initiative, we have supported towns in building their capacity for better waste management. UN-Habitat looks forward to supporting cities in Kenya to improve their waste management situation. Under the German International Climate Initiative, we will complement our efforts on capacity building and with the “African Clean Cities Platform” established by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, we will support cities in developing their strategies and plans for better waste management. UN-Habitat and partners are launching a global campaign to reduce waste and increase effective management to improve people’s lives. The Waste-Wise Cities campaign will encourage local and national authorities to sign up to a Nairobi Declaration, to commit themselves to carrying out a set of actions based on sound principles for effective waste management. During this period, we will look to facilitating the exchange of good practices and solutions that have worked between cities across the world.
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