Nairobi, 11 October 2018 – A stakeholder workshop convened jointly by UN-Habitat and the Government of Kenya has validated findings of the environmental and social impact assessment of closing the Ngong dumpsite and commissioning the new Kajiado Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (KISWAM) facility. Key stakeholders in the project include the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) and the County Government of Kajiado. The workshop also reviewed implementation of the project to be funded through a EURO 20.5 million soft loan from the Government of Italy.

The KISWAM is a resource recovery facility in which organic matter (constituting over 60 percent of waste) is used to generate biogas and electricity, and valuable resources recovered through recycling and re-use of waste. A rooftop solar photovoltaic system will generate electricity to operate the facility. Ensuring that the project is socially acceptable, environmentally friendly and economically viable were key considerations in the selection of technologies for the waste-to-energy facility. The recommended technology is a combination of bio-dryer and bio-reactor units, a more flexible and affordable solution than other options considered. The robust, labour- intensive technology is expected to create 200 new jobs.

Endorsing findings of the feasibility study, the Governor of Kajiado County Mr. Joseph Ole Lenku said he and members of his County Government were eager to see immediate commencement and successful implementation of the KISWAM project. Noting that successful implementation of the project will lead to its replication in other parts of the country, the Environment Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry Eng. Lawrence Simitu expressed his ministry’s support for the project. “We assure you of the government’s support for an integrated solid waste management approach which is the best option today for waste treatment,” he said.

In her keynote speech delivered by Chief of the Urban Energy Unit Mr. Vincent Kitio UN Under - Secretary General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat Mme. Maimunah Mohd Sharif thanked the Government of Kenya and the County Government of Kajiado for creating an enabling environment for successful completion of the feasibility study through active support for the KISWAM project and the Government of Italy for its technical and financial support for the study. UN-Habitat will leverage its expertise to help partners deliver basic services through innovation and sharing of international best practices that are socially acceptable, environmentally friendly and economically viable using processes that can be replicated elsewhere. Improper disposal of waste does affects the health of the citizens and contributes to climate change through emission of dangerous greenhouse gases. The initiative to improve solid waste management in Kajiado County is in line with the 2018 World Habitat Day theme - Municipal Solid Waste Management. Managing and controlling municipal solid waste in an environmentally adequate manner is key for protecting our local and global environment.

Dr. Giuseppe Caposeno of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation commended close collaboration between the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and UN-Habitat, the Government of Kenya and other key partners saying it will enable the project to achieve its desired outcomes. “The participatory approach adopted during the feasibility studies whereby major stakeholders were consulted guarantees project ownership which will produce tremendous results,” he noted.