Community health promoters have urged the government to regulate the disposal of diapers, warning that poor waste management is turning the essential childcare product into a health and environmental hazard.
Officials from the Kirinyaga County Department of Health claimed that diapers were being disposed of indiscriminately across the county, a scenario replicated all across Kenya.
Speaking during a televised address on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, some residents and health promoters in Kirinyaga insisted that if proper disposal cannot be enforced, then the government should consider banning diapers altogether.
A Kirinyaga Community Health Promoter observed that, although diapers offer convenience and important benefits, improper disposal and misuse have become a major concern for public health and the county’s general sanitation.
Diapers are single-use absorbent garments made to hold waste, helping to keep infants dry and hygienic even after they have relieved themselves.
“Used diapers are recklessly thrown in farms, along roadsides, and in open spaces without authorization, exposing residents to health risks,” said one stakeholder.
The Kirinyaga resident added that the situation requires urgent intervention, including the introduction of special bins dedicated to the proper disposal of diapers.
According to the officials, the lack of a structured disposal system has allowed diapers to accumulate in public spaces, attracting flies and rodents that double as disease vectors.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has previously warned that poor disposal of sanitary waste, including diapers, violates national waste management guidelines, requiring that hazardous waste be properly segregated, contained, and disposed of through licensed systems to prevent environmental pollution and public health risks. Soiled diapers are classified as non-organic/hazardous waste and should be placed in red color-coded bags
The stakeholders suggested introducing a ban akin to the one placed on plastic bags, arguing that such a measure would help improve environmental cleanliness.
Additionally, a resident claimed that the flies and rodents feeding on the waste within these diapers increased the risk of sanitation-related illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid, and amoebiasis.
According to the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022, improper disposal of waste is an offence for which Kenyan individuals, households, or institutions caught in the act can face fines, prosecution in court, or both.
