Garbage dumping returns to Eastleigh road reserves as residents blame lax enforcement
The renewed problem comes despite previous efforts by Nairobi County’s anti-dumping unit, supported by local well-wishers, which had significantly reduced the amount of waste along the road reserves.
Garbage dumping has re-emerged on the central reserves of major roads in Eastleigh, reigniting concerns among residents and road users after several months in which the problem appeared to be under control.
Large sections of Yusuf Haji Road have been particularly affected, with heaps of refuse, much of it packed in sacks, appearing overnight, reportedly dumped by unidentified individuals.
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The renewed problem comes despite previous efforts by Nairobi County’s anti-dumping unit, supported by local well-wishers, which had significantly reduced the amount of waste along the road reserves. Those operations had brought a visible improvement, with cleaner central reserves that many in the area hoped would be sustained.
Residents and commuters now say those gains are being eroded. They accuse Nairobi City County askaris, commonly known as Kanjos, of lax enforcement, particularly at night when most of the dumping reportedly takes place.
Muhumed Hassan, a shop owner at Yare Plaza, warned that without immediate intervention, the dumping would escalate.
“You can see several sacks full of garbage right on this road. If not controlled, the dumping will continue and it will grow,” he said.
A man is seen dumping garbage on General Wariungi Street opposite Kilimanjaro Food Court in Eastleigh. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
Some road users believe street families are behind much of the waste being deposited on the central reserves. According to these accounts, the families collect refuse from small restaurants, shops, and miraa sellers in exchange for a small fee, then transport it in sacks to the road reserves and dump it under the cover of darkness.
Last month, Kamukunji Subcounty Environment Officer Noah Ngeno acknowledged that street families are responsible for a significant share of the garbage in Eastleigh. He noted that they have on several occasions been captured on camera disposing of waste in the middle of the night.
The Eastleigh Voice reached out to Vivian Moraa, the head of the Green Army, the group tasked with environmental matters in Eastleigh North Ward. She confirmed awareness of the problem but referred further inquiries to a member of the anti-dumping unit, who identified herself only as Madam Mary.
Mary said that while her team frequently apprehends individuals caught in the act of dumping, their efforts are undermined by the quick release of suspects by police.
“We have arrested so many, but the challenge we are facing is that you arrest someone, take them to the police, and then you hear they have been released,” she said.
Eastleigh remains a major commercial hub, generating billions of shillings annually for both the county and national governments. However, the persistent waste problem threatens to tarnish its image and disrupt business activities.
While Nairobi County has mounted several clean-up initiatives in the past, the recurrence of illegal dumping has led many residents to question the effectiveness of these measures.
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