Nairobi residents who fail to properly dispose of waste at designated waste bin points risk heavy fines. This follows the county's move to reinstall new garbage bins.
The county has officially launched a waste management crackdown following the recent protests that left the Central Business District (CBD) littered, vandalised, and with most waste bins destroyed.
According to the County's Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, the county has begun reinstalling all the bins that were vandalised. To ensure they are well-maintained, the county will implement tough measures.
Mosiria emphasised that the bins were not merely installations but represented the county’s objective to restore cleanliness, dignity, and order in the city.
"I appeal to all Nairobi residents: let us take responsibility. If you see anyone vandalising, misusing, or ignoring these bins, speak up and take action. A clean city is not built by the government alone; it is built by all of us," Mosiria implored.
To ensure the county is transformed to its best levels of cleanliness, the county government has issued seven tough directives aimed at curbing public hygiene violations and unregulated waste disposal.
Among the directives are heavy fines for individuals who fail to use designated litter bins, bans on hawking in unauthorised areas, and the closure of business premises lacking proper waste disposal systems.
Mosiria noted that roadside food vendors operating without disposal structures would be restricted, while private garbage collectors would be licensed and regulated.
“Moving forward, we are ready to make unpopular but necessary decisions,” Mosiria said, highlighting growing frustration over filth and disorder in the city's public spaces.
Furthermore, the county has banned the burning of garbage in open spaces within city limits, and businesses and buildings across the city have been directed to keep their frontages clean.
The county will also install CCTV surveillance in known hotspots to monitor and prevent unlawful dumping and vandalism of public infrastructure.
“These steps may not win applause from everyone, but they are necessary. We cannot clean our city while tolerating behaviours that dirty it,” the county leader emphasised.
The county had previously installed similar bins in the city to maintain cleanliness; however, during the numerous protests that have rocked the city, most, if not all, of these bins were destroyed.
