Ruto Unveils Joint Plan to Clear Nairobi Waste, Shut Down Dandora Dumpsite

President William Ruto has announced a joint national and county programme to clear waste from Nairobi, starting with the removal and rehabilitation of the Dandora dumpsite and the transfer of refuse to a new landfill in Ruai.

Speaking during a church service at AIC Pipeline in Nairobi on Sunday, the President said contracts for the project had already been awarded and implementation would begin immediately. He described the initiative as a coordinated effort between the national government and Nairobi City County to restore cleanliness in the capital.

Mr Ruto said the clean-up would be carried out in phases, with garbage gradually moved from Dandora as the site undergoes treatment. A modern waste treatment facility will also be constructed to process waste into fertiliser, energy, and other usable products.

“Nairobi cannot be the city in the garbage,” the President said, adding that the national government would provide additional funding to support the county’s efforts. He announced that organised garbage collection would begin on 1 April in residential areas and urban centres, while the treatment plant is expected to be completed by 2027.

Nairobi Governor Johnstone Sakaja, who accompanied the President, said more than KSh 4 billion had already been committed to the programme. He highlighted the role of county initiatives such as the Nairobi Green Army, which is responsible for street cleaning, clearing drainage systems, and city beautification.

The Dandora dumpsite, which has been in use for decades, has been a major source of environmental and public health concern for residents in eastern Nairobi. Its planned closure and rehabilitation represent a significant shift in the city’s waste management policy.

The project is intended to improve urban sanitation while strengthening cooperation between national and county governments on infrastructure and public health.