By Mildred Adhiambo & Bella Ikida
In a bid to combat plastic pollution and enhance waste management, the Kisumu County Government has launched a new Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Kondele West, Kisumu Central.
The event presided over by County Executive Committee Member for Water, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, Judith Oluoch, comes on the eve of World Environment Day, which will be celebrated globally on June 5 under the theme “Ending Plastic Waste.”
CECM Oluoch was accompanied to the launch by Mr. Ogallo Erick the Chief Officer Water, Environment, Natural Resources & Climate Change and other officials from the county.
“This is the sixth facility we’ve constructed, but it’s monumental because of its location in the densely populated Kondele area,” said Ms Oluoch..
She added “It will not only manage waste but also create job opportunities and convert waste into valuable resources.”
The Kondele facility is part of the broader National Treasury programme on Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA),a national initiative supporting community-led environmental projects. It will include a shredding machine to process plastics and promote recycling, aligning with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
The national government through the county government of Kisumu has invested approximately KES 5 million in the project, which is constructed on public land in Kondele west, and intends to replicate similar centers in other informal settlements. A new compressor loader truck will also support the transport of waste to the Kasese dumpsite.
In collaboration with Gasia Poa Waste Management Services, who were competitively recruited to manage the facility, will engage 10 local community-based organizations (CBOs) and aims to employ at least 15 youth and women from the area.
Dickens Ochieng of Gasia Poa said “We want to turn waste into wealth, our focus is on sorting and recycling, with women handling color-sorting and men operating machinery.”
He added “Our first employee will be a woman known for her activism in this area. Employing locals keeps the operation secure and community-driven.”
To encourage community participation, the facility will buy sorted recyclables at competitive rates. PET bottles at KSh 10/kg,heavy plastics at KSh 30/kg, Light metals at KSh 40/kg
To further environmental education, the initiative will partner with local schools Manyatta, Kosawa, and Obinju Primary to establish environmental clubs and encourage student participation in plastic collection weeks.
These programs will support underprivileged students with essential supplies like shoes and uniforms in exchange for sorted recyclables.
The facility will accept only pre-sorted waste, encouraging community separation at the source. PET bottles and heavy plastics will be bought at competitive rates, making the facility not just a waste center but also a potential hub for local economic activity.
Kisumu currently has six operational MRFs in Obunga, Otonglo Market, Kasawino, Maendeleo Market and plans to expand to other informal settlements, the county is also preparing to construct a larger central facility to enhance waste collection and management logistics.
With over 49 FLLoCA projects already underway across Kisumu, this new MRF highlights the county’s commitment to sustainability, climate action, and economic empowerment through environmental conservation.
