The Nairobi City County government has established a strategic partnership with the National Government to overhaul the capital’s waste management infrastructure. This joint initiative aims to transition the city from traditional open-air dumping toward a sustainable circular economy model centered on recycling and resource recovery.
The center of this transformation is the Dandora Waste-to-Energy plant, a facility designed to convert the city’s mounting garbage into sustainable power. This ambitious project is expected to generate between 45 and 70 megawatts of electricity, significantly contributing to the national grid while addressing environmental challenges.
Maureen Njeri, the County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi, emphasizes that this initiative marks a definitive shift in the city’s approach. She notes that the county is upscaling its operations to establish an integrated solid waste management system that ensures efficient collection and evacuation.
“This system will ensure all waste generated is collected and evacuated more efficiently and promptly,” CECM Maureen Njeri stated recently. She highlighted that the project includes establishing material recovery stations to enhance the circular economy in the city of Nairobi.
The infrastructure for this transition is already being strengthened, with the county boosting its garbage collection capacity to handle the daily waste. This includes the deployment of 60 functional trucks and the acquisition of additional units to ensure no neighborhood is left behind in this drive.
Njeri further explained that the goal is to recover and make better use of the massive amounts of waste collected daily by repurposing it. “In partnership with the national government, we expect to repurpose this waste into a variety of useful products,” she added, highlighting the economic potential.
The new integrated system is scheduled to officially commence on April 1, 2026, marking the end of decades of reliance on the Dandora dumpsite. By converting waste into fertilizer and power, the project aims to turn an environmental burden into a valuable resource for the people.
President Ruto has described the initiative as a major overhaul that will move the capital from a culture of dumping to one of recycling. This vision aligns with the broader goal of making Nairobi a green, sustainable city that leads the region in climate-resilient urban development.
CECM Maureen Njeri remains focused on the long-term impact of this transition, calling for collective responsibility among all residents and stakeholders. She believes that involving the community is essential to inculcate a sense of responsibility in the protection of the environment for future generations.
As the city prepares for the April launch, the Green Nairobi department continues to mobilize its “Green Army” for citywide clean-up exercises. This proactive approach ensures that the infrastructure and the public are ready for the full-scale implementation of the waste-to-energy transformation project.
