Jubilee Deputy Organizing Secretary Pauline Njoroge has highlighted the worsening sanitation and waste management situation in Nairobi as a major obstacle to the government’s development goals, including President William Ruto’s vision of replicating Singapore’s economic model.
In a statement shared on X, Njoroge stressed that urban cleanliness and proper city management are essential precursors to broader national development.
She pointed to Singapore’s transformation, noting that the city-state prioritized basic public order, sanitation, and enforcement before achieving rapid economic growth.
Njoroge contrasted this with Nairobi, describing the capital as facing significant challenges, including overflowing garbage, inadequate drainage, and unsafe sanitation.
She specifically mentioned encountering a large illegal dumping site in Lang’ata, comparing its scale to Dandora, Nairobi’s largest dumpsite. Njoroge also claimed that some of these sites may be shielded by organized “garbage cartels.”
“The fundamentals must come first,” Njoroge wrote. “Clean streets, proper waste management, and firm enforcement matter. Real progress begins with order. We must first fix the basics of our capital city.”
Her comments arrive as the government promotes ambitious national development initiatives modeled after Singapore, emphasizing efficient governance, infrastructure improvements, and economic competitiveness.
Njoroge’s statement draws attention to the potential gap between these aspirations and local urban realities, particularly in Kenya’s largest city.
Kenya has struggled with waste management for decades. Past reports indicate frequent illegal dumping, poor enforcement of environmental regulations, and recurrent flooding in unplanned settlements.
Nairobi City County has periodically introduced measures such as clean-up campaigns and gazetted dumpsites, but illegal disposal and weak oversight remain persistent challenges.
By focusing on the immediate need for order and sanitation in Nairobi, she frames urban management as a prerequisite for realizing broader economic objectives.