Johnson Sakaja came into office promising to improve how Nairobi handles garbage and restore order to a system that has troubled residents for many years.
Many people hoped his leadership would finally bring lasting solutions to the city’s growing waste problem. However, a recent decision by his administration has caused serious concern and debate among civil society groups and the public.
The county awarded a long-term waste management contract to Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a company whose past record has raised questions about trust and transparency.
For years, Nairobi residents have lived with uncollected garbage on roadsides and in estates. These piles of waste have created health risks and damaged the environment.
When Sakaja became governor, waste management was listed as one of his key priorities. The county government said it would modernize collection, promote recycling, and find better ways to dispose of waste. Instead, the new contract has drawn criticism because of how it was awarded and who received it.
The agreement gives Zoomlion exclusive rights to manage the Dandora dumpsite and run an integrated solid waste system for the entire city.
It is meant to cover collection, transportation, and disposal of garbage for the next 20 years.
The contract is valued in billions of shillings and was issued under tender number NCC/ENV/RFP/109/2025-2026, which opened in January 2026. What has worried many observers is that Zoomlion was the only company that submitted a bid.
This has raised doubts about whether the process was competitive and fair.
Critics also point out that such a large public-private partnership should have gone through stronger oversight. The Public Procurement Directorate is meant to ensure that major deals follow the law and remain transparent.
Yet details of the agreement have not been fully shared with the public. This lack of openness has increased suspicion and reduced trust in the process.
The length of the contract is another major issue. A 20-year deal will bind not just the current governor but also future administrations.
This means that even if better solutions appear later, Nairobi may be locked into one company for two decades. Some people feel this limits future leaders’ freedom to make decisions that suit changing needs.
Zoomlion’s past has added to the unease. In 2013, the World Bank banned the company for two years after it admitted to paying bribes in a waste project in Liberia.
Although the ban ended in 2015 after reforms, the history still worries many residents. In Ghana, the company’s long-running contract with the Youth Employment Agency was not renewed in 2025 following complaints about costs, worker pay, and transparency.
Despite these concerns, Sakaja’s administration went ahead with the deal. This happened shortly after talks between Sakaja and President William Ruto about joint efforts to clean Nairobi and improve the Dandora area.
Sakaja has often spoken about introducing new fees through water bills, supporting recycling projects, and exploring waste-to-energy ideas.
He has also said the county should avoid mistakes made during the Nairobi Metropolitan Services period, which left behind large debts.
Many residents now feel disappointed and worried that this contract could repeat past failures instead of solving them. Civil society groups are calling for full disclosure of the agreement and stronger checks on whether it follows procurement laws.
For a city that urgently needs clean streets and reliable waste services, the decision under Johnson Sakaja has raised serious questions about accountability and whose interests are truly being served.
