The Spouse of the Deputy President, Joyce Kithure, has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, communities and businesses to ensure Nairobi remains clean and conducive for residents and economic activity.
Speaking on Saturday during a community clean-up exercise in Dandora estate, Nairobi County, Kithure said maintaining the cleanliness of the capital city requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, noting that the government alone cannot achieve the goal without public participation.
“Nairobi is our capital city, and its cleanliness reflects who we are as a nation. Government alone cannot achieve this goal without the participation of the people,” she said.
The Second Lady emphasized that every resident has a role to play in safeguarding the city’s environment, urging communities to extend the same responsibility they show in maintaining their homes to public spaces.
“As we clean our houses every day, we must also extend the same responsibility to the spaces outside our homes — in the streets, drainage channels, markets and public spaces where we live and work,” she said.
“A clean Nairobi will not come from policy alone; it will come from the collective effort of its citizens,” she added.
The clean-up event forms part of the Science Adding Value to the Environment and the Communities Initiative (SaVE), an environmental programme spearheaded by Kithure aimed at promoting practical solutions, innovation and community participation in environmental conservation.
Through the initiative, Kithure said communities are encouraged to take an active role in improving sanitation and protecting their surroundings while also enhancing the quality of life for residents.
She warned that poor sanitation and waste management continue to expose communities to serious health risks, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
“Poor sanitation exposes our communities to diseases such as cholera, typhoid and other waterborne infections. Children are especially vulnerable, and as leaders and citizens, we have a duty to protect their health and their future,” she said.
Kithure revealed that similar environmental initiatives will be rolled out in other informal settlements and neighbourhoods across the city, including Kawangware, Mathare, Kibra, Korogocho and Mukuru, as well as the city’s Central Business District.
She also urged residents to adopt responsible waste disposal practices to prevent garbage from clogging drainage systems, a problem that often worsens flooding and sanitation challenges in the capital.
“Cleaning alone is not enough. We must also change our habits. Let us dispose of the waste responsibly. Let us avoid throwing plastics and garbage into drainage systems,” she said.
Kithure further encouraged parents and community leaders to educate children about environmental protection and support recycling and sustainable waste management practices.
“Let us educate our children about protecting the environment and support recycling and sustainable waste management,” she said.
The Second Lady noted that sustained community engagement and behavioural change will be key to transforming Nairobi into a cleaner and healthier city for all residents.
