Environment Chief Officer, Geofrey Mosiria, has announced the closure of all illegal dumpsites in Nairobi, saying they majorly contribute to environmental pollution.
Speaking on June 11, during the flag-off ceremony of the city’s first-ever air quality monitoring network, Mosiria noted that the problem of illegal waste disposal practices is part of the broader crackdown on environmental violations.
The flag-off ceremony consisted of 50 new low-cost sensors proposed to provide real-time data across the city, enabling: identification of pollution hotspots, evidence-based policymaking, and timely, targeted interventions.
“The closure of Likoni road dumping site is ongoing,” Mosiria said, adding that the Gitanga road dumping site is underway among many illegal dumping sites in Nairobi.
Mosiria revealed that the government is now working on launching a waste to energy project, which aims to convert waste into usable energy.
“This will enable residents will be encouraged to sell their waste instead of dumping it, creating an economic incentive and reducing pollution,” Mosiria said.
This move is expected to enhance the city’s capacity to tackle air pollution, which caused an estimated 2,500 premature deaths in Nairobi in 2019.
Additionally, Mosiria mentioned the development of the draft Air Quality Action Plan 2025–2029 and draft Air Quality Regulations 2024, which aim to guide future interventions and improve enforcement.
These legal tools are complemented by efforts to green public spaces as part of the city's broader climate action strategy actions that have been shown to reduce air pollution and mitigate urban heat.
On the same note, he emphasized on the importance of involving children in environmental conservation from an early age.
He proposed a policy where every school-going child would plant a tree each academic year, starting with one in class one, two in class two and so on.
“By the time they complete their primary and secondary education, each child would have nurtured multiple trees,” Mosiria explained.
According Mosiria, this policy is not only achievable but would significantly contribute to making Nairobi greener and cleaner.
