President William Ruto has announced the relocation and treatment of the Dandora dumpsite in a major intervention aimed at transforming Nairobi’s waste management system and restoring the city’s environmental health.
Speaking during a church service in Pipeline, Embakasi, on Sunday, February 8, the President confirmed that land has already been secured in Ruai to facilitate the treatment and eventual relocation of waste currently dumped at Dandora.
Shift of Dandora Dumpsite
The President confirmed that the national government has committed financial and logistical support to the Nairobi County Government to clean up the city, describing the state of waste management as unacceptable for the capital.
The move is meant to align with the government’s plan to shift away from open dumping and establish an integrated waste treatment facility that converts waste into useful products.
“Last year, we agreed that we must clean the city of Nairobi. Nairobi cannot be the city in the garbage,” Ruto said.
According to Ruto, the planned facility will include systems for landfill treatment, waste cleaning, fertilizer production, and energy generation, marking a shift towards sustainable waste management and a circular economy model.
“We have received the money. We have received the land in Ruai. We are going to treat the landfill of Dandora. We are going to build a place to clean the landfill. We are going to build a fertilizer. We are going to build energy,” he announced.
Relief for Dandora Residents
The President said the project is the result of consultations between the national government and Nairobi County, following concerns over public health, environmental degradation, and the impact of the dumpsite on surrounding residential areas.
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Communities living near Dandora have for years complained of toxic fumes, contaminated water, and increased respiratory illnesses linked to the open dumpsite.
Ruto said he has already engaged residents in the affected areas and assured them that the government would work closely with them during the transition.
He noted that the treatment plant is expected to be ready by next year, but waste collection reforms will begin earlier.
Major Nairobi Transformation
Ruto announced that structured garbage collection across Nairobi estates will start on April 1, 2026, forming the first phase of the broader clean-up plan.
The process will involve coordinated collection from residential estates and commercial areas to reduce illegal dumping and improve sanitation across the city.
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The President called on the Nairobi County Assembly and county leadership to work with the national government to resolve any operational challenges that may arise, insisting that environmental problems in one part of the city eventually affect all residents.
“We begin collecting garbage on 1st of April. We will begin the process of collecting garbage from our estates, from our town, so that we can clean the city of Nairobi,” Ruto said.
He warned that pollution and poor waste management in areas surrounding Dandora pose risks not only to nearby communities but to the wider Nairobi population, including neighborhoods far from the dumpsite.
Ruto framed the relocation of the dumpsite as part of a broader national transformation agenda, saying the process would require political goodwill, institutional cooperation and public support.
He acknowledged that the clean-up would not be easy but insisted it was necessary.
“Transformation is not a walk in the park. Transformation takes sacrifice. It takes commitment. It takes focus,” he said.
The Dandora dumpsite, Nairobi’s main waste disposal site for decades, has long exceeded its capacity and become one of the most visible symbols of the city’s environmental crisis.
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