Rwanda to Help Nairobi Deal with Garbage Menace

The county government of Nairobi has now sought to employ the secret that Rwanda has used to maintain its capital city, Kigali as one of the cleanest cities in the continent and beyond.

The Mike Sonko administration has collaborated with the Rwandan High Commission to Kenya to improve the cleanliness of Nairobi, which has been dogged by garbage menace in recent years.

Rwanda High Commissioner to Kenya Ambassador James Kimonyo said he is committed to helping Nairobi follow the steps taken by his country in maintaining its environment tidy.

“We are happy to continue this national exercise with Rwandans living here in Nairobi but most importantly we have agreed with the county government that this exercise can only be a success if it’s done in partnership with its administration,” said Ambassador Kimonyo.

Kimonyo was speaking when he joined Rwandans living in Kenya in marking ‘Umuganda’, a general cleaning exercise, on Saturday at the Rwandan Embassy in Gigiri, Nairobi as part of activities to mark Rwanda’s 24th Heroes Day anniversary.

“Kigali boasts as one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the World with no litter nor open soil. Our secret has been in behavior change as a result of strict enforcement practice in our country,” he said.

Nairobi Environment assistant director David Makori said the county plans to mobilise county residents every month for a joint cleaning exercise, where they will also be sensitized on the need to keep environment clean.

“The governor is glad to be associated with the Umuganda cleaning exercise and has committed to working with partners to help bring back Nairobi to its lost glory. We are ready to work with Rwanda to help in solid waste management since you have shown to the rest of the World and Africa how it is done,” said Makori.