Nairobi County is counting losses after the newly installed dustbins, which are barely a month old, were destroyed by angry protestors.
The protestors, who took to the streets on Thursday to demonstrate against the recent death of Albert Ojwang, were seen uninstalling the bins.
In videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, a number of the bins were removed from their original posts, with the protestors carrying them along the road, as they dragged them along.
The bins were installed barely a month ago to help keep the city clean, as the county embarks on empowering a cleaner city.
Initially, when installed, the county had issued stern warnings to both city dwellers and hawkers against destroying them.
Speaking when the installation kicked off on Sunday, May 18, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Mosiria, stated that the bins were put in place to serve pedestrians, after the previously installed ones were stolen.
The bins were purely designated for Nairobians and pedestrians, with business owners sent a stern warning not to dump their commercial waste in the bins.
"Importantly, these dustbins are strictly meant for use by pedestrians and not for hawkers, vendors, or business owners," the county official had warned.
Nairobi residents had complained to the county that the city lacked bins, making it difficult for them to practice hygiene. After numerous complaints, the county heeded the pleas and installed the bins, which have now been destroyed.
The first batch of bins had been placed in high-traffic areas, with plans to expand into neighborhoods, parks, and transport hubs soon.
Governor Sakaja had emphasized that the bins were more than just waste containers but symbolized order, hygiene, and modernity in Nairobi.
To ensure the bins would be well taken care of and not destroyed, the county offered a Ksh5,000 reward to residents who reported cases of bin vandalism.
Condemning the vandalism, Mosiria acknowledged the youths' right to picket but urged them to exercise restraint, emphasizing that demonstrations should not be an excuse for destruction of property in the city.
