Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has sounded the alarm over what he termed a “persistent crisis” in garbage collection across Kenyan counties, warning that corruption, criminal cartels, and inefficiency are undermining devolution’s promise of improved service delivery.
Speaking during the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, Mudavadi said investigations have revealed entrenched cartels siphoning public funds through inflated contracts, ghost workers, and illegal dumping. In some regions, he noted, criminal gangs have turned public roads into unauthorized dump sites, profiting from waste while exposing communities to toxins and insecurity.
“This is not mere inefficiency; it is a betrayal of public trust, where the fruits of devolution are diverted from the people to private pockets,” Mudavadi said, lamenting that billions of shillings have been spent with little to show for it.
The PCS proposed a performance-based funding model under the Equalization Fund to reward counties with clean, efficient garbage systems and penalize persistent underperformers.
“Counties achieving high waste collection rates, recycling targets, and reduced pollution, verified through independent audits, could receive bonus allocations to expand green initiatives,” he suggested, adding that poor performers could have funds withheld and redirected to national cleanup efforts.
He also urged counties to embrace innovative solutions, such as converting organic waste into fertilizer, generating electricity through waste-to-energy plants, and creating youth-led cooperatives for recycling.
He warned that unmanaged hazardous waste, including medical and electronic refuse, poses grave health and environmental risks, and called for dedicated treatment plants and community training.
“By rewarding innovation and sanctioning neglect, we can align devolution with equity and justice, ensuring cleaner counties, healthier citizens, and empowered youth,” Mudavadi said, proposing recognition awards such as “Green County of the Year” to inspire competition for sustainability.
Written By Rodney Mbua
