Yesterday morning, as I was walking to the office from an assignment, I decided to buy some bananas on Kijabe Street from a vendor opposite a Simlaw Seeds shop. I inquired about prices and was told three bananas go for Sh20.

My mother’s wisdom dictates that I should never pay for anything in the streets without bargaining. Noticing how impossible that would be owing to the price of the bananas, I threw out to the vendor a causal “Wuuueh, na hii serikali imeamua kumaliza economy na wanabiashara vile wanafanyia Gen-Z uku nje!”

Little did I realise that I had set the stage for a ‘TED talk’ from the vendor about the failures of President Ruto’s government and how “he should not touch ‘murima’”.

Not interested in being caught up in this roadside ‘political rally’, I relinquished my Sh20, grabbed my banans and briskly walked to our offices at DSM Place to file my day’s stories. I didn’t want to be part of someone’s manifestos.

Less than five metres out, I was done with my bananas. But get this: between the Globe Roundabout and DSM Place, along Kijabe Street (which borders Michuki Memorial Park), there isn’t a single dustbin on either side of the road.

Mind you, this is more of an insult to the late former environment minister John Michuki’s legacy of rehabilitating the once den of thieves and litter-filled unattended land into the beautiful recreation centre it is today. Needless to say, I walked with the peels of my bananas to the office so I could dispose of them properly.

The lack, or rather inadequacy, of litter bins in the Nairobi CBD paints a grim picture and leaves everyone wondering how Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja intends to make the great City in the Sun work. Moi Avenue alone lacks enough litter bins. In fact, there are fewer than 10 bins if you walk from the National Archives all the way to Moi Avenue Primary School.

Other major roads, including University Way, Kenyatta Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, are no different. They too are struggling to keep the city clean, with no litter bins around.

Yet, over the past few days, we have witnessed Nairobi County Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria, along with his officers, patrolling the city, night and day, arresting those found urinating or defecating in the streets, littering, spitting, or closing down unhygienic business premises — especially those dealing in food.

Public nuisance Act

Just last week, 30 individuals were arrested and arraigned in a Nairobi court, where they faced various petty offence charges. They were sentenced to community service. Some were tasked with cleaning the Nairobi City Mortuary, others were ordered to clean Uhuru Park, while the rest were engaged in a citywide cleanup.

Similarly, the county government is calling on city dwellers to familiarise themselves with the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act, 2021, which aims to control public nuisances and empower the county to take all lawful, necessary, and reasonably practicable measures to abate and prevent them.

However, it leaves everyone baffled by the irony that the county government plans to restore the dignity of the city, including its environment, without adequate disposal sites.

Upon reaching out to Mosiria, he blamed the mess on city dwellers who remove litter bins and sell them to scrap metal dealers. He similarly called on members of the public to take responsibility and ensure that no one destroys public property.

He also cited ignorance among people that promotes the problem, stating, “Many people just stand and watch as these properties are being destroyed.”

To address this, and as with every other promise made when clarification is sought, Mosiria conveyed that the Nairobi County government plans to add more bins around the city. The bins will be made of fibre.

He explained that fibre bins would not be vandalised and sold off to scrap dealers for monetary value.

“We have a budget allocated for that, and the procurement process is ongoing,” he stated.

He also maintained that no street or major road in the capital city lacks a litter bin.

He claimed that most litter bins were destroyed during the pro-good governance protests by Kenyan youth.

Interestingly, when I tried to point out that a street like Kijabe has never had a litter bin, he insisted that the bins might have been vandalised during the protests and even claimed he was ready to take a walk with me to show me all the spots where bins were previously erected.