Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced that Nairobi County will deploy 320 tricycles to improve garbage collection in informal settlements, marking a major shift toward sustainable, end-to-end waste management in the city.
Speaking during an interview with NTV Kenya, Sakaja explained that the tricycles will transport waste to four newly planned transfer stations, reducing the need for long hauls to the Dandora dumpsite and enhancing operational efficiency.
“The biggest challenge in the city is the level of waste that we produce. There have been many bandage solutions that have not worked,” Sakaja said, noting that previous efforts lacked proper machinery, human resources, and financial sustainability.
He added that Nairobi had once employed 4,500 personnel for waste management—the highest in the country—but without coordinated recycling and revenue generation, garbage management remained a costly and inefficient endeavor.
Sakaja said the county has now partnered with an experienced contractor to implement full recycling processes, turning organic waste into fertilizer for the national government, which pays a third of the cost.
“Garbage is something that, in the past, was just a cost center. There was no revenue coming from it,” he said, emphasizing the need for solutions that are sustainable rather than quick fixes.
To support the initiative, the county has collaborated with the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) to include a conservancy fee in water bills, ensuring that all residents contribute to solid waste management.
“Now, with that fee, everybody will be paying for the garbage from the common areas, because you need to sustain it. You need to service those vehicles,” Sakaja said.
The governor stressed that the tricycles will serve informal settlements, funneling waste into transfer stations, where private service vehicles can then transport it efficiently, reducing litter and improving sanitation.
He also highlighted broader challenges for the capital city, noting that Nairobi requires special arrangements under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, including coordination with the national government for infrastructure and security.
“From the high class to the lowest class, people are affected. This is a highly logistical affair. You need to get spare parts, make sure the equipment is up and running, so that change will be seen,” Sakaja said.
He reiterated that sustainable, structured waste management, not temporary fixes, is essential to keep Nairobi clean and operational as both a county and the capital city of Kenya.
