Imported solid wastes adding more salt to injury

The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of 1999 gives rights and confers duties to individuals to safeguard and enhance the environment. It guarantees every Kenyan a clean and healthy environment. These provisions also envisage protection of the environment for the benefit of the present and future generations as also envisioned  in Kenyan Vision 2030 and the constitution 2010.

However, more often than not, urban dwellers have to make do with living amid solid wastes despite the health risks.  Here is where slums and streets are littered with solid wastes and bus parks and ocean/lake shores serve as dumpsites. It is common to come across slum children playing with plastic bags full of feaces that had been thrown away the previous night.

Kenya continues to face a myriad of challenges regarding solid waste management. Budgetary deficiencies, insufficient public awareness, poor enforcement of outdated legislations, less solid waste research and lack of skilled staff in waste management are making us stare in the face of a solid waste management time bomb. Collection systems are inefficient and disposal systems are not environmentally friendly. 30 to 40 per cent of all solid waste generated in urban areas is uncollected and less than 50 per cent of the population is served (Otieno, 2010). He states that up to 80 per cent of collection transport is out of service or in need of repair and argues that if the issue of sustainable solid waste management in Kenya is not considered urgently, all the towns in Kenya will be engulfed in waste. The politics of relocating the Dandora dumpsite, inspite of the obvious environmental health risks it predisposes us to, for instance, has been here with us for decades. Again, one would wonder, where will this dumpsite be rellocated with the current approaches? That remains another discussion for another day!

Nairobi, the most affected by the solid waste menace, produces approximately 3200 tonnes of solid wastes daily. This is enough for people who would want to draw recyclables, instead of resorting to importation as in the case last week of the 20 tonnes from Britain. But this, ashamedly, might just be a tip of the iceberg. Many more are getting in. But one would ask, why bother with the local content while we can not tell the exact amounts of types of solid wastes we produce daily as a nation?

This calls for the need for sustainable, economically and ecologically practical solutions to integrated solid waste management.  These simple and well known three bottom-line prerequisites need to guide us in the development of a solid waste management strategy that would protect our land and turn the solid waste management sector into a viable economy. This would call for the revision of the EMCA Act to be realistic with the changed face of the solid wastes sectors such as a viably inclusive private-public partnership in the major towns. This would facilitate a fruitful implementation of NEMA’s Waste Management Regulations 2006 which are yet to yield convincing fruits. It would also guide county governments on waste management. If this is not happening alongside other sector alignments, then where are headed to? 

The writer is a Public Health Officer practicing in Nairobi(Chrispory.juma@gmail.com)

How can young people end corruption in Kenya?

With Kenya ranked as one of the most corrupt in Africa and the youth accounting for more than 60% of her population, the fight against corruption can be well won if the youth actively participate in interventions against corruption or initiate innovations to help fight the vice. We must help effect Transparency International’s vision of a world in which governments, politics, business, civil societies and the daily lives of people are free of corruption.

We, young people, are undoubtedly the biggest victims of corruption. Youth unemployment is one of Kenya’s biggest headaches yet World Bank Reports show that more than 250,000 job are lost to corruption annually. Bribery, tribalism and nepotism shroud the job market such that competence and merit have been thrown to the bin. This in turn means that we remain poor and resort to retrogressive malpractices such as drug-abuse, moral degradation, violence and apathy that continue to affect our economic growth over time. The need for the youth to be involved in the fight against corruption can therefore not be over-emphasized. What then must young people do to end corruption?

We must provide servant leadership, at all levels. With our athleticism and energy, we must strive to influence the society to believe in us as the best agents of change and capable leaders. We must therefore lead by example while respecting existing authorities. In a society where politics is money-driven, we can use our numbers to propel ourselves into political offices and once there, we must be of integrity to serve as examples to others. Many youths now look up to Duncan Gutuanja (youngest county representative) and Kinoti Gatobu (youngest MP) to be shining leaders. The nation can never trust us with leadership when, in positions of power, we are the ring-leaders of corrupt deals and moral corruption. We need to be the luminaries of reforms and social accountability, providing leadership in condemning corruption loudest and reporting any cases to the relevant authorities, which we must always keep on check and ensure they serve the interests of citizens.

Young people must end total dependency on the government for jobs and wealth creation opportunities by coming up with initiatives that do not only help them, but create opportunities for others. To be prosperous in these wealth creation initiatives, we can seek mentorship from successful businesspeople who have always inspired generations over-time, such as Manu Chandaria and Chris Kirubi. The government provides loans to the youth. How many of us belong to youth groups that can apply for these loans? How many youth groups pay back their loans so that others can also benefit. If we can manage these funds well to have sustainable sources of income for ourselves, the government will be encourage to pump more into youth funds and we shall be politically and economically independent.

Corruption can not hold us back as we watch. In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, ‘We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longer synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of a Nation are the trustees of Posterity.’ I believe that with servant leadership and strive for economic independence, we’ll immensely contribute to securing a corruption-free future for our beloved country Kenya.

The writer is a Public Health Officer practicing in Nairobi (chrispory@gmail.com)

Public Health Officers Act good for the profession

This year saw the enactment of the Public Health Officers (Training, Registration and Licensing) Act which makes provision for the professionalism,  training, registration and licensing of Public Health Officers and Public Health Technicians. The Act establishes the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council whose purpose is to exercise general supervision and control over the training, practice and employment of Public Health Officers and Technicians in Kenya and advice the government and Ministry of Health on matters of Public Health Governance.

The success, order, prominence and impetus of any professional body is hinged on a strong regulatory council and the powers given to this council signals a promise of a brighter future to the legitimacy, position and contribution of Public Health professionals in health care provision, management and policy dialogues in  Kenya. This Act puts the Public Health Profession at par with other council or board-regulated health professions in the country such as Medicine, Nursing and Medical Technology.

Some of immense powers it gives the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council include; Prescription of courses of instruction for Public Health Officers and Public Health Technicians, and specifying their minimum qualifications; Consider and approve the qualification of Public Health Officers and Technicians for purposes of registration; Licence and regulate the practice of registered Public Health Officers and Technicians; Establish, regulate and maintain a professional code of conduct for all Public Health Officers and Technicians.

Section 37 provides for the establishment of the Disciplinary Committee which shall be responsible for instilling discipline, decorum and decency within the profession. This committee actually has powers to suspend, withdraw or cancel the practicing certificate of a professional found to have violated the code of conduct. This will go a long way in restoring the integrity of a profession which at times has been associated with corruption in course of duty of its members.

The Public Health profession shall no longer be a field for any other Dick and Harry. One will have to undergo specific examinations for certification to practice in Kenya or anywhere else. Let us ready to expect even specific dress-codes we are required to put on while on duty. It is our hope that this Act will streamline employment of Public Health Professionals, most particularly employment and internships of Public Health (Environmental Health) Graduates.

One unexploited area that this Act gives life and cognisance is Private Practice by Public Health Officers and Technicians. It states that one is qualified for practice as long as he/she is a Kenyan citizen, registered as a PHO/T, holds a valid practicing certificate and annual licence, has served as a PHO/T under supervision for a period of not less than five years and is deemed to have professionally qualified with a certificate, diploma or degree.

The Council, in its constitution, provides for a representative of the Association of Public Health Officers, Kenya (APHOK). This reverberates into the need for strengthening of the professional body which protects the rights and welfare of all the Public Health Officers/Technicians in Kenya. This strengthening, in the eyes of an intern, must involve providing avenues for interns to actively participate in APHOK’s activities, including involvement in elections.

This Act will no doubt play a bigger part in restoring the stature of Public Health Officers/Technicians as key players in the pursuit of realizing holistic health for all Kenyans. We are awaiting the constitution of this council with abated breathe.

The writer is a Public Health Graduate practising in Nairobi (Chrispory.juma@gmail.com)

We must continue to uphold Musa Juma’s Legacy

Today marks the death of Musa Juma two years ago. The sorrows that greeted the news of his death still hovers over the hearts of his legion of fans, including me. Kenya had lost one of its greatest and iconic benga and rhumba musicians.

We owe it all to the man who revolutionized our music, giving it the lyrical and instrumental touch similar to the conglose lingala. With his fusion of Franco’s guitar skills, Okatch’s attractive voice and Collella’s tempting tunes, he gave our music a new image. He proved it that vernacular music, in this case benga, could infact unite people, as every Kenyan, from whichever background enjoyed and continues to enjoy his music. People from all walks of life could attend his live shows. He entertained many people of different nationalities, from Botswana to U.S.A.

He inspired and continues to inspire many musicians. Bands like Bana Sungusia, BV Band, Madjona Rhumba, Banamela and Patron Musica have learnt a lot from him and his brand remains their musical benchmarks.

As we commemorate his death with his legendary spirit still hovering over us, his fans, the question remains if we continue to uphold what he stood for. This was a crooner who advocated for peace, love, reconciliation, integrity, discipline and environmental management; the thematic issues around which his music revolved. We can honour him by upholding these values. Just as he used his gift to promote a better society, we can also use our various abilities to create a better society.

He commanded respect amongst his peers and fans and led his band, Limpopo International, with exemplary discipline and adorable flamboyance. Perhaps present-day musicians have lessons to learn from this.

We must credit his younger sister, Millie Fedha, for managing to liven his legacy by maintaining Limpopo Band, though now metamorphosized to Super Limpopo International Band. Even with major band members like Damas, Azile, Salim, Vaska, Tumbas, Jose, Sande and John gone to other bands like Banamela, she has managed to bring up a young and talented band that continue to make the late Musa Juma (I am sure) and every of his fans proud. Watching them sing is nostalgic and acoustic. Keep up Millie, we support you.

I still believe there are more things we can do to honour our music icon. Think of a memorial event like a tournament, or a special awards ceremony to honour benga artists named after him. We love you MJ, your legacy lives on, we continue to immortalize you. 

The writer is a social commentator living in Nairobi

The water bill 2012 will trasform sector

         By Chrispory Juma

The constitution 2010 (section 4) has clear tenets that secure provision of water in sufficient quantities and safe qualities to all citizens in Kenya. Water as a a fundamental right, is the centre-piece of livelihoods of all humans. It provides for safe sanitation, sustainable agriculture and generally, economic development. The expedience of water can therefore not be under-estimated.

The constitution transformed almost entirely, the the management and provision of key services by key state institutions under the devolved systems. The greatest victory citizens made with the new order is ownership of government. Service provision is now people centred.

The water sector is one of the richest in the country, with water companies raking in billions of shillings from water connections to consumers. These companies double  as sanitation institutions, for example, Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) and Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MOWASSCO). Claims of corruption, insufficient water supply, overbilling, poor saniitation and water disconnections have always shrouded the work of thes companies.

This aside, UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) states that 41% of kenyans do not live in safe water and sanitation environments and that only 11% of Kenyans in rural areas have access to water supply. It further indicates that 10% of hospital deaths result from water related diseases (WHO report, 2011).

Therefore, the reality of water scarcity and related problems is here with us. This, plus the constitutional gap, necessisated The Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) to embark on the revision/ammendment of the Water Act 2002 in 2011. This is the legal document that provides an oversight guidance on the management and provision of water services.

Two years down the line and two months to the general elections that will dawn the county governments, the bill is yet to be law. Parliament closed without the bill getting presented to the relevant parliamentary committee or the floor of the house. It is now clear that as we head to the new system, there are no structures that will guide water sector.

However, the water bill 2012 has really good provisions that would inprove service delivery in the water sector. I wish to point out a few of them, namely:

1.      It establishes autonomous bodies like the National Water Storage Authority to replace National Water Pipeline Board. This body will aim at improving our water bank. We are going to have Water Services Boards at every county to attract larger economies of scale in terms of projects funding from the donors and the government. This also means that water service delivery shall be edecentralized.

2.      There is provision for citizen participation in the water sector. Water Action Groups (WAGs) are established to represent citizens and act as a link between Water Companies and consumers. The WAGs will carry out civic education on sector institutions and water sector reforms.

3.      The county governments will be the ones that shall be having contracts with the water companies, not the central governments. This will improve transparency and effeciency in water service delivery. Bureacracies involved in central government water services will also be avoided.

It is therefore grossly imperative that stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector begin to brace themselves to push state actors to speed the enactment of the water bill 2012 into law. While the national water policy has been revised and obviously, it has began to be implemented, the fate of the bill hangs in the balance. For better water provision and improved livelihood aspects related to it, all of must be ready to push the govenrment to release the bill.

The writer is a an intern with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS), Homa Bay County and the convener of  Public Health Officer Interns Kenya (PHOIK).