President William Ruto has unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul Nairobi’s waste management system, announcing a joint initiative between the national government and Nairobi City County to relocate the Dandora dumpsite and build a modern waste treatment facility.
Speaking on February 8, 2026, at the AIC Church Pipeline in Embakasi South, the president said close cooperation between the two levels of government will drive a lasting solution to the capital’s long-standing garbage crisis. He said the project aims to restore Nairobi’s image and improve public health and environmental standards.
“We have agreed to clean the city of Nairobi. Nairobi cannot be the city in the garbage. We have sat down with the governor. I will get money from the national government, so that we add to that of the county government, so that we can clean the city of Nairobi,” Ruto stated.
The head of state revealed that the government has already secured land in Ruai for a new landfill, paving the way for the gradual decommissioning and rehabilitation of the Dandora dumpsite, which has served the city for decades. He said waste removal will happen in phases to avoid disrupting waste collection services.
“Already the contract has been given. We have found land in Ruai. The landfill in Dandora is going to be treated. So the garbage will be removed from Dandora bit by bit, not at once. We want to start to build where we will clean the garbage so that we manufacture fertiliser, energy and other things,” he explained.
Ruto said the project marks a shift toward sustainable waste management, with the new facility designed to convert refuse into useful products such as fertiliser and energy. He confirmed that contracts for the construction and operation of the plant have already been awarded and implementation has begun.
“A treatment plant will be built at the Dandora Dumpsite to manage waste, produce fertiliser and generate energy from next year,” Ruto said.
According to the president, garbage collection across residential estates and urban centres will start on April 1, as part of a citywide clean-up drive. He added that the waste treatment plant is expected to be completed by 2027, aligning with the government’s broader urban renewal agenda.
“I have told those concerned that I want to work with them so that by 2027, the treatment plant will be ready, but we will begin collecting the garbage from April 1, from our estates and towns, so that we clean the city of Nairobi,” Ruto said.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who also addressed the congregation, said the national government has committed more than Ksh4 billion to support the project. He noted that the funding will boost waste collection, infrastructure development, and the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable waste management system for the capital.
The initiative is expected to reduce environmental pollution, improve public health, and create new opportunities in energy generation and fertiliser production, potentially positioning Nairobi as a cleaner and more livable city.
However, many Nairobians remain cautiously optimistic, noting that the capital has witnessed numerous high-profile pledges and pilot projects to clean up the city in the past that failed to translate into lasting change.
