Nairobi City County has announced a major crackdown on businesses within the Central Business District (CBD) that fail to comply with proper waste management regulations.
In a statement released on Monday, Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosiria said the operation will target hotels and other establishments that generate large amounts of waste. The inspections will focus on how businesses manage and dispose of their garbage.
“I will be leading an operation in the Central Business District to inspect all hotels and other establishments that generate waste, focusing on how they manage and dispose of it,” Mosiria stated.
The official expressed concern over the growing problem of garbage sacks being dumped along road reserves and walkways, which he said was tarnishing the city’s image. “Currently, if you walk through the CBD, you will find sacks of garbage dumped along road reserves and walkways, contributing to the untidiness of our city,” he noted.
According to Mosiria, some businesses deliberately avoid paying the county for waste collection and instead hire street families or unlicensed individuals who charge less but dispose of garbage illegally. “One of the biggest challenges we face is that many businesses that generate waste do not want to incur the cost of proper disposal. Instead, they hire street families or unlicensed individuals who end up dumping waste unlawfully,” he explained.
He warned that establishments found flouting waste disposal rules will face legal action, adding that any garbage traced back to its source will hold the responsible parties accountable.
While the current crackdown will focus on the CBD, Mosiria revealed that the campaign will soon expand to other areas of the city to tackle illegal dumping comprehensively. “Sometimes, difficult and unpopular decisions must be made to achieve lasting results, and a clean, organised city is our ultimate goal,” he said.
The move comes as global concern over waste management grows. A recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, Beyond an Age of Waste: Turning Rubbish into a Resource, projected that global municipal solid waste could rise from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. The report warned that without urgent reforms, management costs could nearly double, worsening environmental and economic challenges.
