Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has unveiled a significant initiative aimed at transforming Nairobi’s waste management system, describing it as a crucial step in the broader national development agenda.
Speaking at PEFA All Nations Church in Gikomba on Sunday, February 1, the President emphasised that the capital city must lead the way in Kenya’s transformation from a third-world economy to a first-world nation.
“There is no way we can transform Kenya without transforming Nairobi. That is why we have agreed with the county government that we are going to do close to four things. Our city has a great problem of waste, and this has been a challenge for a long time,” Ruto stated.
“I have said that to manage waste, we will come together as the national government, county and theresidents of nairobi so as to find a lasting solution. That work is starting from April 1 and I will lead from the front,” he added.
The initiative is set to begin on April 1. It will involve a coordinated effort between the national government, Nairobi County, and the residents of the city. Ruto emphasised that success requires participation from all sectors of society.
“It is going to take a whole-of-society endeavour. All of us must play our part to make sure that Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, leads the way in transforming Kenya from a third-world to a first-world country,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the planned interventions would accelerate the city’s environmental recovery and create a more sustainable urban environment.
According to Ruto, the program will not only focus on waste collection, but it will also implement a long-term, comprehensive strategy to ensure proper disposal, recycling, and sanitation practices across Nairobi. This effort will aim to prevent waste mismanagement from continuing to hinder the city’s economic and social development.
The President went ahead and called on residents to actively participate in the clean-up program, stressing that public cooperation is essential to the initiative’s success. He highlighted that improving the city’s environment would not only enhance public health but also support the growth of Nairobi as a modern, world-class city.
“I want to ask the residents to partner with the national and county government as we clean up this city and ensure that waste management does not continue to impede Nairobi’s development,” Ruto added, noting that Nairobi was the capital city of environmental matters in the world. Kenya must lead from the front to make sure the city is environmentally aligned.
In efforts to clean up the city, the head of state acknowledged ongoing progress in cleaning Nairobi’s waterways, noting that the Nairobi River clean-up is already 40 per cent complete and that by January 2027, the water from the river would be clean, and residents will start using it.
Nairobi has long struggled with waste management challenges, including overflowing dumpsites, poorly managed recycling processes, and pollution of rivers and drainage systems.
Previous initiatives, Ruto noted, have achieved limited success due to a lack of coordination and inadequate community participation. The President’s approach seeks to address these gaps by fostering collaboration among government authorities, private sector actors, and residents.
Currently, the national government has launched the climate works programme for jobless youths who have been cleaning the Nairobi River in efforts to make its water clean for drinking.
With the launch of this initiative, Nairobi aims to set a benchmark for urban environmental management in Kenya, reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainable development and citizen participation, primarily since the city hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
