Why Nairobi Is Losing Its Sparkle — And What You Can Do About It
Nairobi, once celebrated as the “Green City under the Sun,” is now facing an environmental crisis that’s hard to ignore. Drive down Kangundo Road, Outering Road, or Enterprise Road, and you're likely to be greeted by mountains of garbage and an unmistakable stench in the air.
A City Drowning in Its Own Waste
Illegal dumping has become the norm — with Kawangware, Eastleigh, and Ruai joining the growing list of affected areas. Piles of garbage appear overnight, grow rapidly, and are only cleared after they become unbearable — just for the cycle to repeat.
“You can see garbage is already here… Kanjo will eventually remove it,” said one informal cart operator in Ruai.
What’s Fueling the Crisis?
1. Unlicensed Waste Collectors
Many informal garbage collection businesses operate without licenses or regulations. They collect waste from households, then dump it in open sites rather than authorized locations.
2. Vendors Dumping at Night
Fruit and sugarcane vendors often dispose waste after hours, citing low profit margins as a reason for not hiring disposal services.
“Nitamaliza siku bila kitu nikilipa mtu kutupa takataka,” said one vendor along Outering Road.
3. Resident Negligence
It’s not just businesses — residents too have been faulted for littering, illegal dumping, and ignoring proper waste channels. These actions block drainage systems, causing serious flooding during rainy seasons.
County Government Efforts
Despite the chaos, Nairobi County is not sleeping on the job. Officials have:
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Rolled out refuse compactors
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Introduced mechanical street sweepers
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Launched public awareness campaigns
But even the most advanced systems can't succeed without citizen cooperation.
What You Can Do to Help
Let’s flip the narrative. If Nairobi is to regain its sparkle, it starts with us — the people. Here's how you can be part of the solution:
| Action | Impact |
|---|---|
| Use licensed garbage collectors | Ensures proper waste disposal |
| Avoid littering on roads or drains | Prevents flooding & environmental damage |
| Separate recyclables at home | Eases the recycling process |
| Report illegal dumpers | Discourages unregulated operations |
| Organize or join cleanup drives | Community empowerment & neighborhood pride |
“It’s a collective responsibility, not just the county’s job,” said Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi’s Chief Officer for Environment.
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