Kenyans have been urged to report individuals engaging in illegal dumping in Nairobi amid rising cases of waste disposal in neighbourhoods, open spaces and road reserves.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the practice is affecting the city’s environment, posing health risks, blocking drainage systems and reducing its beauty as the county government intensifies waste collection and environmental management efforts.
Sakaja said maintaining a clean city requires the involvement of residents, businesses and community groups, noting that waste management remains a shared responsibility between the county government and the public.
“A clean city is a reflection of who we are and the pride we take in our community. While the county government continues to invest in waste collection and environmental management, keeping our city clean is a responsibility we all share,” Sakaja said.
“I am concerned by the increasing cases of illegal dumping in some of our neighbourhoods, open spaces, and road reserves. This practice not only degrades our environment but also poses serious health risks, blocks drainage systems, and diminishes the beauty of our city."
Sakaja called on residents, business owners and community groups to dispose of waste responsibly by using designated waste collection and disposal points.
“I therefore call upon every resident, business owner, and community group to play their part by disposing of waste responsibly and utilising designated waste collection and disposal points. Let us also report individuals who engage in illegal dumping and work together to protect our shared environment,” he said.
“The future of our city depends on the choices we make today. Together, let us build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable city that we can all be proud of."
The county government has scaled up waste management operations, increasing daily garbage collection from about 1,000 tonnes to more than 4,000 tonnes as part of an ongoing citywide clean-up campaign aimed at restoring cleanliness across the capital.
The initiative, which involves private-sector partners including Zoomlion, has seen the county expand its garbage collection fleet to more than 100 trucks operating around the clock.
The increased capacity has enabled the clearance of dozens of illegal dumping sites and long-standing waste accumulation points across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties.
Sakaja said Nairobi’s position as the country’s capital and economic hub, with a daytime population of nearly seven million, requires a coordinated and reliable waste management system.
“Since the commencement of the citywide clean-up campaign in April 2026, we have successfully cleared more than 40 major waste collection points and illegal dumping sites across various sub-counties,” Sakaja said.
County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi Maureen Njeri said the intensified operations have increased waste collection volumes, with peak capacity reaching up to 6,000 tonnes daily.
“This coordinated waste collection programme will continue as we work towards a cleaner and healthier city,” she said.
The clean-up campaign has recorded major clearance operations in Embakasi, Kasarani, Mathare, Kibra, Dagoretti, Kamukunji, Ruaraka and other sub-counties.
In Kasarani, the county said major collection points, including St. Francis, Gituamba, Mawe Mbili and Kamulu 26, have been cleared, with hundreds of truckloads of waste removed.
Similar operations in Embakasi West, Dagoretti South and Kibra have seen long-standing dumping sites cleared and placed under routine maintenance.
In Mathare, Dagoretti North and Starehe, the county said previously congested waste hotspots have been brought under control through continued clean-up and monitoring efforts.
Public markets, including Muthurwa and Wakulima, continue to receive routine servicing to maintain sanitary conditions.
The county government said the programme forms part of a wider integrated solid waste management strategy that includes the recruitment of 4,000 Green Army workers and planned investments in material recovery facilities and waste transfer infrastructure.
The strategy is aimed at supporting a circular economy approach in waste management.
City Hall has urged residents to support the initiative by using designated collection points, avoiding illegal dumping and improving waste segregation practices at the source.
Officials said the clean-up programme will continue across all sub-counties, with regular maintenance operations to ensure cleared sites do not return to their previous state as Nairobi works towards a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment.
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