In a significant push to enhance hygiene across Nairobi, the County Assembly has approved a motion requiring all businesses to install dustbins on their premises.

The measure, championed by Rex Omolleh, MCA for Nairobi West Ward, aims to tackle litter in public spaces and foster a cleaner urban environment.

“This is a straightforward but essential step,” Omolleh said, urging business owners to comply. “Having a dustbin on your premises is now mandatory. Let’s take pride in a cleaner, more organized Nairobi.”

The motion calls for strict enforcement of Section 22 of the Nairobi City County Solid Waste Management Act, 2015, a provision that has long existed but has seen little implementation.

Kennedy Okeyo Ng’ondi, Speaker of the Assembly, stressed that the mandate aligns with Article 42 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to a clean and healthy environment. “These laws are supposed to make the County a better place for residents,” Ng’ondi noted, highlighting the health risks posed by uncollected waste.

Frustration has grown among legislators over the lack of enforcement of the 2015 Act. Many lawmakers voiced concerns that, without action, Nairobi’s waste issues will continue to escalate, impacting residents’ quality of life.

To address this, the Assembly’s motion also calls for the County Executive Committee to swiftly develop additional regulations under Section 27 of the Act, with a deadline of 60 days for review by the Assembly.

Assembly members emphasized the responsibility of the County Executive to implement existing laws, as mandated by Article 183 of the Constitution. They noted that a robust oversight plan is essential to ensure laws that protect Nairobi’s environment are fully operationalized, creating a healthier and more appealing city for residents and visitors alike.