Despite Nairobi County’s growing garbage problem, the newly approved Sh44.6 billion budget for the 2025-26 financial year has once again overlooked waste management, sparking frustration among residents and traders across the city.
Finance and Planning Executive Charles Kerich defended the budget, stating it was designed to balance service delivery and fiscal responsibility without overburdening taxpayers. The budget focuses on health, education, road construction, and ward-level development, allocating Sh31.2 billion to recurrent expenditure and Sh13.4 billion to development.
However, the glaring omission of a clear allocation for garbage collection and sanitation has drawn criticism from the public and environmental activists. In areas like Westlands, Kasarani, Kangemi, and parts of the Central Business District, uncollected garbage continues to pile up, posing a serious health risk.
“Garbage collection is not a luxury — it’s a basic need,” said Kamau Njoroge, a trader in Kasarani. “The air is polluted, the streets are filthy, and our businesses are suffering.”
In the CBD, lanes near City Market and I&M Bank are choked with trash. Major markets like Kangemi and City Park are overwhelmed, while residential areas in Westlands endure overflowing bins and foul odors.
Peter Mwangi, an environmental activist, slammed the budget for prioritizing “optics over essentials.” He noted that while infrastructure and health projects are vital, they are undermined if sanitation is neglected. “You can build roads and hospitals, but if people are living in filth, you’re undermining their health and dignity,” he said.
Though the county’s own-source revenue rose to Sh13.4 billion in the previous year, showing improved collection and an expanded tax base, essential services like waste management remain sidelined.
Kerich highlighted increased funding for health infrastructure, including Sh849 million for hospitals and Sh700 million for school feeding programmes. But for many Nairobians, these efforts ring hollow when basic urban hygiene remains ignored.
Until visible change occurs on the streets, skepticism persists. “Until I stop seeing garbage mountains outside my door every week, I won’t believe the county is serious about service delivery,” said Njoroge.
As Nairobi’s garbage crisis worsens, urgent attention to sanitation remains an unfulfilled promise.
