Nairobi County intensifies waste clean-up drive, clears dozens of illegal dumpsites

The county, in partnership with private sector players including Zoomlion, has expanded its fleet to more than 100 garbage collection trucks operating around the clock. The expanded capacity has enabled the clearance of dozens of illegal dumping sites and long-standing waste accumulation points across the city’s 17 sub-counties.

Governor Johnson Sakaja said Nairobi’s status as the country’s capital and economic hub, with a daytime population of nearly seven million people, demands a coordinated and resilient waste management system.

“Since the commencement of the citywide clean-up campaign in April 2026, we have successfully cleared more than 40 major waste collection points and illegal dumping sites across various sub-counties,” Sakaja said.

County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi Maureen Njeri said the intensified operations have driven a sharp rise in collection volumes, with peak capacity reaching up to 6,000 tonnes daily.

“This coordinated waste collection programme will continue as we work towards a cleaner and healthier city,” she said.

The clean-up campaign has seen large-scale clearance operations recorded across Embakasi, Kasarani, Mathare, Kibra, Dagoretti, Kamukunji, Ruaraka, and other sub-counties.

In Kasarani alone, the county notes that major collection points such as St. Francis, Gituamba, Mawe Mbili, and Kamulu 26 have been cleared, with hundreds of truckloads of waste removed. Similar operations in Embakasi West, Dagoretti South, and Kibra have seen long-standing dumping sites dismantled and brought under routine maintenance.

In Mathare, Dagoretti North, and Starehe, the county adds that previously congested waste hotspots have been brought under control through sustained clean-up and monitoring efforts. Key public markets, including Muthurwa and Wakulima, continue to receive routine servicing to maintain sanitary conditions.

The county government says the programme is part of a broader integrated solid waste management strategy that includes the recruitment of 4,000 Green Army workers and planned investments in material recovery facilities and waste transfer infrastructure to support a circular economy approach.

City Hall has urged residents to support the initiative by using designated collection points, avoiding illegal dumping, and adopting better waste segregation practices at source.