Nairobi County’s Environment Chief Officer, Geoffrey Mosiria, has directed all waste handlers in the city to obtain licenses from the county government as part of new efforts to create a cleaner and greener environment.
In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, April 27, 2025, Mosiria said all private service providers involved in waste collection and transportation, recyclers, and anyone handling waste, whether recyclable or organic, must now be licensed.
He called on all stakeholders to take responsibility for the environment, emphasising that having a license will ensure that waste management activities are carried out in a proper and lawful manner.
“All private service providers involved in waste collection and transportation, recyclers, and anyone handling waste, whether recyclable or organic, must be licensed by the County Government. Let us all take responsibility for keeping our environment clean and green,” Mosiria stated.
Clampdown on illegal dumping
This new directive comes a month after Mosiria launched a major crackdown on illegal dumping sites in Nairobi.
In a previous statement shared on March 29, 2025, he announced that only the Dandora dumpsite would be recognised as a legal waste disposal site under the Nairobi City County Government’s waste management plan.
“We must close down all illegal dumping sites in Nairobi—let’s not legalise an illegality in the name of earning a living. We can always support waste pickers, but in a dignified way,” he stated.
Mosiria stressed that Nairobi cannot continue to normalise lawlessness in waste disposal. He made it clear that the days of operating illegal dumping sites in the name of providing livelihoods were over.
He pointed out that waste pickers have an important role in recycling and managing waste, but he insisted they must be supported in a dignified and regulated manner that protects the environment.
According to Mosiria, closing down illegal dumping sites is necessary to bring back order and ensure Nairobi residents live in a healthy environment.
He firmly stated that Dandora is the only official dumping site in Nairobi, and any other sites currently operating are illegal. Mosiria warned that the county government would take strict enforcement measures to shut down unauthorised sites and uphold existing environmental laws.
“Dandora Dumping Site is the only recognised dumping site in Nairobi; there is no other. All these other dumping sites are illegal, and we must not operate as if there are no environmental laws governing the Nairobi City County Government,” he added.
He further emphasised that his administration is fully committed to restoring proper waste management practices in the city, saying the county must protect public health and prevent further environmental damage.
While he acknowledged that informal waste collectors need to be supported, he maintained that it must be done within a structured and legal framework that promotes order rather than chaos.
Mosiria pledged to do whatever it takes to implement the environmental laws and restore cleanliness and order in Nairobi.