Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Saturday led a citywide mega clean-up campaign, bringing together all 17 sub-counties. The exercise involved residents, county staff, the Green Army, and other stakeholders. This initiative aims to keep the capital clean, unclog drainage systems, and improve the urban environment. With 4,500 personnel participating, the campaign targeted neighbourhoods, estates, roads, and drainage channels across the city.
The clean-up campaign is part of a renewed push to address the garbage menace in Nairobi. The city currently collects about 3,200 tonnes of garbage daily, with the Green Army playing a central role in waste collection and environmental clean-up. Sakaja challenged residents to take personal responsibility for the cleanliness of their surroundings. He urged households, businesses, and institutions to take ownership of at least 100 metres around their premises.
Sakaja emphasized that the 'Nairobi Lazima Iwork' philosophy should extend beyond the county government and become a collective responsibility. He maintained that the slogan is not just about what the county government does but also about what each resident does. The Governor said the clean-up should not be treated as a one-day event but as the beginning of a sustained culture of environmental responsibility.
The campaign is centred on four key actions: picking litter, cleaning drains, keeping neighbourhoods clean, and taking pride in Nairobi. Residents have been mobilised through designated meeting points in the wards, with county teams working alongside communities to address waste and drainage challenges. Sakaja invited Nairobi residents to participate in a special citywide clean-up exercise on Saturday, October 10, to mark Mazingira Day.
Mazingira Day is observed annually on October 10, following amendments to the Public Holidays Act. The day is dedicated to environmental conservation activities. Sakaja urged residents, businesses, community groups, and institutions to use the occasion to take practical action to keep their neighbourhoods clean and protect the environment.
Green Nairobi County Executive Committee Member Maureen Njeri said the mega clean-up was part of the county's broader effort to change the culture of waste management. The goal is to strengthen community participation in keeping Nairobi clean and move from a culture where residents wait for the county to clean their neighbourhoods. Njeri emphasized that keeping the city clean must become a shared responsibility.
The county is implementing broader reforms aimed at fundamentally changing how Nairobi manages its waste. A key component is the establishment of NCCG-Green Nairobi Limited Company, a professional county-owned entity with its own governance, management, and operational structures. The company will be responsible for garbage collection, licensing of waste collectors, maintenance of public spaces, and coordination of efforts towards a clean, green, and liveable Nairobi.
Key points
- Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja leads a citywide clean-up campaign with 4,500 personnel.
- The campaign aims to keep the capital clean, unclog drainage systems, and improve the urban environment.
- The county is establishing NCCG-Green Nairobi Limited Company to manage waste sustainably.
