Kakuma – April 1, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
Kakuma Municipality has unveiled a new waste management project that allows for segregation of waste at source, easy collection, and proper disposal at the dumping sites, after one year of learning where the initiative was jointly implemented with VNG International as a demonstration project.
The project is also designed to allow for end-to-end actions, permits adoption of the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) waste handling strategies, mitigation of potential health risks, and the transformation of waste into an economic asset, three best practices globally acclaimed by players in the sector.
In his speech, when he presided over the launch as the Chief Guest, Speaker of the County Assembly Rt. Hon Charles Lokioto said that the move was a demonstration that the Municipality had sufficiently grown to take up its functions as listed in the various legal instruments, calling on the residents to support the process.
“Waste management is clearly a core function of the municipality, however i have to tell you here today that we all have a duty to play not only as residents of the area but as direct beneficiaries of the service. We must all support the municipality administration in creating a clean Kakuma capable of attracting tourists,” he said.
The Speaker also called on the municipality management to work closely with the Member of the County Assembly for Kakuma and Chair of the Lands Committee on by-laws hindering the municipality from fully exercising its mandate.
“Our goal as a County Assembly is to support the system so that all institutions fully execute their mandates. I hereby direct Kakuma area MCA and Chair of the Lands Committee to work closely with the municipality board on ensuring all relevant by-laws are prepared and submitted to the Assembly for our approval,” he said.
On her part, Chief Officer for Partnerships Janerose Tioko commended VNG International for providing support to the Municipality management over the one-year joint implementation period.
Additionally, she said that the County would rally partners in the waste management sector to contribute towards the gains already realized by supporting the process leading to the gazetting of the current municipal area dumping site and ensuring it is operational.
“The launch of the waste management initiative is a huge plus to the health and well-being of the growing population in Kakuma, consisting of both the host and refugee communities. Our focus now turns to working with partners to ensure that the designated dumping site is gazetted as required by law,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of VNG International, Resident Programme Manager Grainne Kidakwa noted that the support extended to the Municipality was driven by the need to strengthen its capacity to deliver improved services to both host and refugee communities in the area.
She highlighted that VNG International has worked closely with the Municipality to enhance governance systems and promote integrated service delivery. A key component of this collaboration has been the engagement of community-based solid waste management committees, whose training and involvement have played a critical role in fostering community participation and ownership of waste management initiatives.
According to Kidakwa, the one-year joint implementation period provided valuable opportunities for learning, identifying gaps, and developing inclusive strategies that actively involve both host and refugee communities in practical waste management solutions.
She further noted that the Municipality is now taking the lead in the project, and expressed confidence in its capacity to advance integrated service delivery, while emphasizing that several critical areas still require immediate attention to ensure it can fully deliver on its solid waste management mandate.
Deputy Manager of Kakuma Municipality Halima Duba clarified that through the project, the municipality will place properly labeled waste collection bins at strategic places around town, coordinate collection of the waste, and initiate the dumping procedure on a regular basis.
Residents also welcomed the initiative, saying that proper implementation would free them from rampant outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and cholera, usually associated with increasing heaps of waste products.
During the launch, the Chief Guest, top county officials, and the Municipality management joined the residents in conducting a clean-up exercise and march through the streets of Kakuma to raise awareness on proper waste handling practices.
Mike Aupe Director Partnerships, Christine Nalemaekon (Turkana West Sub County Administrator), Kakuma Town MCA Eliud Emoni, Chair of the Lands and Urban Areas Management Committe Patrick Esekon Losuru, representatives of Swiss Contact, Girl Child Network, UNHCR, Usafi Initiative, refugee led groups and the general public attended the event.
