WHY NAIROBI IS STILL DIRTY - SAKAJA EXPLAINS

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has shed light on why the capital’s streets remain littered, blaming long-standing debts and operational setbacks inherited from the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

Speaking during a radio interview on Wednesday, September 17, Sakaja said that despite the perception of order during the NMS era, the agency left behind massive financial burdens that now weigh down his administration.

“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,” he explained.

According to Sakaja, the city was paying contractors Ksh1.6 billion every month while receiving only Ksh1.7 billion from the national government. “With that balance, how could we possibly deliver other essential services?” he posed.

The governor added that delays in funding from the national government make the situation worse. “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,” Sakaja said.

Sakaja pointed out that workforce shortages are another major contributor to the 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 noted. To bridge the gap, his administration has recruited more than 4,000 young people under the Green Army programme to strengthen waste collection efforts.

The governor further raised concerns over rogue private garbage collectors who dump waste illegally at night.

“Some youths are paid Ksh2,500 per lorry to dump garbage illegally. I told them I would rather pay Ksh10,000 a day to do the work properly,” Sakaja said, warning that his government will deregister firms engaging in such practices.

He appealed to both residents and service providers to work hand in hand with the county to restore Nairobi’s image. According to Sakaja, consistent collaboration and accountability will be crucial in ensuring that the city’s streets stay clean.

His defence comes just a week after Nairobi based Ward reps had orchestrated to impeach him under grounds of irresponsible maning of Nairobi - however, the efforts were significantly thwarted by President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

With just three years in City hall, Sakaja's reign has faced violent criticism especially over the unkept state of the country's central hub. This situation has positioned Embakasi MP Babu Owino a potent rival against the Nairobi governor - with opinion polls depicting him more popular than the county boss.