Nairobi City County has intensified its efforts to curb plastic pollution by launching a fresh crackdown targeting tea and coffee hawkers operating in the Central Business District (CBD). The move comes amid rising concerns over plastic waste, which has been blamed for clogging drainage systems and worsening flooding in the capital.
According to Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi’s Environment Chief Officer, many of these hawkers rely heavily on disposable cups and single-use plastic bags but fail to dispose of the waste properly. “Most of them do not carry litter bins to manage waste after their customers consume their products,” he said.
The city’s drainage systems, already under strain due to poor waste disposal practices, are often choked by plastic debris, resulting in frequent and severe flooding. Nairobi generates an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 tons of solid waste daily, with a significant portion remaining uncollected. This uncollected waste frequently finds its way into stormwater drains and waterways, exacerbating sanitation challenges and health risks during the rainy season.
To mitigate the problem, the county has now restricted tea and coffee vendors to designated back-lane areas, aligning them with other categories of hawkers under existing regulations. Mosiria confirmed that enforcement operations are underway and several hawkers were arrested during a Wednesday night raid, although they were later released.
In addition to targeting hawkers, the county is also cracking down on suppliers of single-use plastics and has vowed to pursue legal action against those flouting environmental regulations.
“We must do everything necessary to restore order and cleanliness in our CBD,” Mosiria emphasized, noting that the county spends vast resources on keeping the city clean.
To complement the crackdown, Nairobi has recently installed new waste bins across the CBD to support proper disposal and curb illegal dumping.
The county’s actions underscore a broader push to promote environmental sustainability and improve urban sanitation. With climate change contributing to more erratic weather patterns, City Hall hopes these measures will reduce flooding risks and foster a cleaner, healthier city for all.
