Sakaja explains why Nairobi streets are still dirty

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has revealed why many of the city’s streets remain littered, pointing to massive debts and operational challenges as major hurdles.

Speaking in an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the governor said much of the problem traces back to financial obligations left by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

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“Before my administration, NMS had multiple service contracts that created the illusion of cleanliness, but in reality, they left us with a debt of Ksh16 billion,” Sakaja explained.

“Contractors were being paid Ksh1.6 billion monthly, yet the national government only remitted Ksh1.7 billion. With that balance, how could we possibly deliver other essential services?”

He further noted that delayed funds from the national government exacerbate the issue. “Even when garbage is collected by our teams, without funds to fuel the trucks, it cannot be transported. Prioritising salaries means waste often sits by the roadside,” the Governor said.

Elsewhere, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki met with Sakaja and discussed the Nairobi River’s regeneration progress, a project that is part of a broader national initiative to tackle environmental degradation, urban flooding, and poor waste management along river corridors.

Manpower Challenges

Sakaja highlighted that staffing gaps have also contributed to the city’s persistent garbage problem.

“Before I became governor, the last recruitment to sweep the city was in 1987. Most of those workers were elderly and close to retirement,” he said. To address this, he noted that his administration has recruited over 4,000 youths under the Green Army programme, a move aimed at boosting efficiency in waste collection.

The governor also expressed concern over private garbage collectors who dump waste illegally in non-designated areas.

“Some youths are paid Ksh 2,500 per lorry to dump garbage illegally. I told them I would rather pay Ksh 10,000 a day to do the work properly,” Sakaja said, warning that the administration would deregister anyone caught engaging in such practices.

Sakaja further urged residents and service providers to cooperate, noting that sustained efforts and accountability will be key to turning the city’s streets into consistently clean public spaces.