Nairobi residents and business owners face tougher penalties for poor waste disposal in the Central Business District (CBD), following a new directive by the county government. Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosiria announced that anyone caught discarding trash on walkways, roadsides, or other undesignated areas will be arrested and charged.
The order, which targets both individuals and business operators, comes as the county intensifies its campaign to maintain cleanliness in the city. “We are going to be making some popular decisions, including arresting those who are not willing to comply until we achieve compliance,” Mosiria stated. He further warned business owners against hiring street families for garbage disposal, saying much of the waste ended up in undesignated sites. Instead, he urged them to use licensed waste handlers and ensure trash is taken to proper collection points.
“Even hawkers, as you close up your businesses, make sure you collect your garbage and dump it in the transfer points, or if it’s not much, put it in the litter bin within the CBD,” he advised.
Mosiria spoke during a nighttime cleanup exercise on Sunday, September 14, which involved 3,000 members of the county’s Green Army. The team, which works in shifts, has been tasked with collecting garbage across the city and keeping streets clean.
Governor Johnson Sakaja, who led the exercise, commended the Green Army for their dedication. He defended his decision to confirm them to permanent and pensionable terms, noting that their performance had surpassed expectations. “Many discouraged me, arguing that they would become lazy, but the Green Army has proved otherwise,” Sakaja said.
The cleanup also marked preparations for the launch of the Green Nairobi Company Limited, a county-owned entity expected to introduce modern, structured waste management systems to provide lasting solutions to the capital’s garbage crisis.
