By Staff Writer
Clean up exercise dubbed Safisha KaNairo .Photo Courtesy Teryani Mwadzaya
Nairobi has stepped up efforts to tackle mounting waste and poor sanitation through the “Safisha KaNairo” campaign, a large-scale clean-up drive targeting informal settlements, markets and residential estates across the city.
The initiative, implemented through a partnership between Nairobi City County and sanitation company Zoomlion Kenya, seeks to improve waste management, restore environmental cleanliness and reduce health risks associated with poor sanitation.
County officials said the intervention was launched as an urgent response to growing piles of uncollected garbage and illegal dumping in densely populated neighborhoods and public spaces.
Large-scale waste evacuation and environmental restoration activities are currently underway in Dagoretti North, Kamukunji, Starehe, Kasarani, Embakasi East, Kibra, Ruaraka and Mathare.
Among the areas targeted are Kawangware-Gitanga, CBD Market, Korogocho Market, Huruma Grounds, Mau Mau area and Ngomongo, locations that residents say have struggled for years with poor drainage and unmanaged waste.
Additional clean-up operations are ongoing in parts of Dagoretti South and Embakasi South as authorities seek to extend sanitation services beyond the central business district and improve conditions in underserved communities.
Health and sanitation experts involved in the initiative noted that proper waste management could significantly reduce diseases linked to contaminated environments, including cholera, typhoid and respiratory infections caused by poor disposal practices.
Officials said the campaign goes beyond routine garbage collection and is intended to build a long-term culture of environmental responsibility among residents, traders and businesses.
Residents have been urged to avoid illegal dumping and take part in community clean-up exercises, while county governments across the country have been encouraged to adopt similar sanitation models to improve public health and environmental sustainability.
Environmental organizations and youth groups have also been called upon to support recycling and waste-to-value initiatives that can create economic opportunities while promoting cleaner urban spaces.
