DANDORA’S DIRTY LEGACY FACES A CLEAN SWEEP
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
NAIROBI, KENYA — August 26, 2026
Nairobi is stepping up the war against garbage, illegal dumping and years of accumulated waste as Zoomlion Kenya Waste Services Ltd, in partnership with the Nairobi City County Government, intensifies the Safisha Kanairo 2nd Edition campaign.
The ambitious programme targets legacy waste and illegal dumpsites across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties, with the immediate goal of reclaiming public spaces, improving sanitation and protecting communities from the health and environmental risks associated with unmanaged waste.
At Korogocho Market, residents and traders are already experiencing the impact of ongoing waste evacuation. Waste that previously accumulated for months is being cleared, creating a cleaner environment for businesses and shoppers.
The initiative goes beyond simply removing garbage. Zoomlion Kenya plans to transform waste into an economic resource through recycling and value addition.
Once the company’s planned Waste Recycling and Value-Addition Plant in Ruai becomes operational, organic waste is expected to be processed into compost and fertiliser, while plastic waste could be converted into pellets for manufacturing products such as household waste bins.
The transformation is also taking shape at Dandora Dumpsite, where Zoomlion Kenya has intensified engineering works involving compaction, re-engineering and capping. The company says the intervention is aimed at transforming the site environmentally within two years, while reducing the foul odours that have affected neighbouring communities.
The campaign has further extended its community focus to Wangu Comprehensive Primary School, located next to the Dandora Dumpsite. The school, which accommodates more than 5,800 pupils, 70 teachers and 44 hearing-impaired learners, has faced challenges linked to dumpsite fumes, security and water scarcity.
As part of its CSR intervention, Zoomlion distributed scholastic materials and committed to longer-term collaboration in tree planting, environmental education and support for perimeter security.
Zoomlion says the wider programme could create more than 5,000 direct and indirect green jobs, opening opportunities for youth and waste pickers in recycling, material recovery and organic fertiliser production.
The company is also calling on county governments across Kenya to embrace Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a sustainable approach to waste management, arguing that private investment, technical expertise and proven waste-management models can help turn hazardous dumpsites into productive economic spaces.
The ultimate ambition is to change how Nairobi views waste — from a costly environmental burden into a source of fertiliser, recyclable products, employment and economic value.
Safisha Kanairo 2nd Edition is therefore not just about cleaning Nairobi; it is about changing the city’s relationship with waste.
