By Peace Muthoka
Nairobi is stepping up its citywide clean-up operations under the “Safisha KaNairo” campaign, with intensified efforts targeting waste hotspots across residential estates, informal settlements, markets, and public spaces. The initiative, spearheaded by Nairobi City County in collaboration with Zoomlion Kenya, seeks to restore cleanliness, safeguard public health, and promote a more sustainable urban environment across the capital.
County officials describe the ongoing exercise as an urgent and coordinated response to rising waste accumulation in densely populated areas and persistent illegal dumping sites. They say the campaign is not only addressing immediate sanitation challenges but also laying the foundation for long-term waste management reforms.
The clean-up operations have now been rolled out across several parts of the city. In Dagoretti North, teams are working in Borabora and Kawangware-Gitanga. In Kamukunji, the focus has shifted to Morale Road and Kinyango, while Starehe’s Central Business District market is also undergoing extensive waste evacuation.
In Kasarani, clean-up teams are active in Githwamba and St. Francis, while Embakasi East is seeing operations in Vumilia. Kibra has also been included, with efforts concentrated at Othaya Market and Kamukunji Grounds.
In Ruaraka, waste removal is ongoing in Area 1, Korogocho Market, and Ngomongo. Meanwhile, Mathare teams are working in Huruma Grounds, Mau Mau, and Huruma Flats. Additional interventions continue in Senior Citizen area in Dagoretti South and English Press in Embakasi South, alongside other identified waste-prone zones across Nairobi.
Health experts and sanitation stakeholders note that improved waste management plays a critical role in reducing preventable diseases linked to poor hygiene and environmental contamination. They emphasize that the campaign goes beyond clean-up, aiming to nurture a lasting culture of environmental responsibility across all communities.
To strengthen public engagement, media houses, bloggers, influencers, and environmental advocates have been urged to amplify awareness using hashtags such as #SafishaKanairo, #SafishaDandoraDumpingSite, and #CleanCities.
Residents have also been encouraged to support the initiative by avoiding illegal dumping and actively participating in community clean-up activities. County governments across the country are being urged to adopt similar sanitation models, while environmentalists are called upon to support long-term recycling and waste-to-value solutions.
Youth groups, in particular, are being identified as key partners in structured environmental programmes that can improve neighbourhood cleanliness while also creating economic opportunities.
The initiative is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership model by Zoomlion Kenya, part of a global waste management group. The arrangement allows the government to focus on policy and sustainability outcomes while operational execution is handled by the private partner.
