Sakaja Explains Why He Is Unable to Keep Nairobi Clean

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has explained why some of Nairobi’s streets remain littered with garbage and why his administration is still grappling with keeping residential areas and city streets clean.

Speaking in a media interview on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the Governor cited huge debts left by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) as one of the reasons garbage collection has stalled in certain areas.

“Previously, garbage collection was more like sweeping dirt under the carpet without solving the real problem. Before my administration came in, NMS had contracted many service providers, creating an impression that cleaning was being done. But they left us with a debt of Ksh 16 billion. Imagine, contractors were being paid Ksh 1.6 billion every month, yet the national government only sends us Ksh 1.7 billion. With that balance, what other services could we possibly provide?” Sakaja explained.

Sakaja Explains Why Parts of Nairobi Are Littered with Garbage

The Governor also highlighted several challenges that plagued his predecessors, including a lack of manpower and insufficient garbage trucks and equipment. He noted that his administration has taken steps to address these issues.

“The garbage problem is tied to three things. The first is manpower. Before I became governor, the last time people were recruited to sweep the city was in 1987. Most of the workers were elderly women who were now about to retire. We decided to hire youths, and we have employed more than 4,000 young people under the Green Army program,” said Sakaja.

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Sakaja stated that the manpower challenge has now been largely resolved, but his administration still faces financial hurdles when funds from the national government are delayed.

“The problem comes when money from the national government is delayed. For instance, today, the youths may collect garbage and pile it by the roadside, ready for trucks to pick up.

However, if funds are delayed, I must prioritize paying their salaries over fueling the trucks. That means garbage is collected but not transported because the trucks have no fuel. The money for the environment has not been ring-fenced,” he noted.

Nairobi Governor Vows to Take Action Against Those Engaging in Illegal Dumping

Additionally, Sakaja revealed that two groups are involved in garbage collection within Nairobi: government-contracted service providers and private collectors hired by estates.

However, he raised concerns that some private collectors engage in illegal dumping, worsening the garbage problem.

“In areas that are not designated collection sites, these private collectors pay young people to dump garbage illegally at night. I even spoke to some of these youths and asked how much they are paid.

They told me Ksh 2,500 per lorry. I told them I would rather pay them Ksh 10,000 per day to do proper work instead of engaging in illegal dumping,” the Governor claimed.

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Sakaja warned that his administration will not take lightly the actions of private garbage collectors involved in illegal dumping. He said those found culpable will soon be deregistered.

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