Nairobi City residents who will be caught spitting saliva in the streets will be arrested, Nairobi Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Moisria revealed on Thursday night.
While fielding questions from the media, the County official noted that Nairobi residents have become notorious in littering the city and are not aware that there exists bylaws governing the maintenance of hygiene levels.
He also explained that the county government will implement the directive by strategically positioning county askaris to ensure its enforcement and urged city residents to use handkerchiefs in case they intend to spit.
“We will put our officers on every corner and on every street of Nairobi to ensure no one urinates, spits saliva or litters the city anyhow," he stated.
Moisira also sounded a warning to those operating in downtown Nairobi over failing to maintain hygiene standards.
“The upper Nairobi, with Moi Avenue as the dividing line, is very clean because people are responsible as opposed to those in the downtown,” the CEC added.
The officer, who has been very strict with enforcement of the hygiene standards, revealed that an intense operation was in the works to ensure the directive works.
“We want to put all our bylaws into use. We cannot continue as if we don't have any laws. It is you citizens who make laws through the choice of leaders to implement these laws.” the environment chief added.
According to Nairobi County Nuisance Act, it is an offense to deposit any type of material or waste on the streets. The law also stipulates that spitting on any footpath or blowing the nose aimlessly other than into any suitable cloth or tissue is an offense.
The offense of blowing your nose without a handkerchief or tissue risks fines Ksh10,000 or an imprisonment term of between 6 months and 12 months.
A Nairobi Court On Monday August 19 directed some 30 offenders who were caught urinating on the streets to clean the Nairobi Funeral Home, formerly, the City Mortuary.
The Chief Officer led the exercise where he thanked the magistrate for delivering the punishment saying that it stood to serve as an example to others with such behaviors.
The enforcement of the Act is likely to see many Nairobi dwellers on the wrong side of law because of the unawareness in the existence of such laws.
