It is a complete eyesore. At every turn of a corner, one comes across a heap of mixed waste that keeps on piling. The city’s central and backstreet alleys are impassable. 

It is a similar picture even in the residential areas. Mounds of uncollected waste, a signal that someone in government could be in slumber. 

Nairobi, the country’s capital and a regional hub, is struggling with inadequate waste management, leading to overflowing landfills, illegal dumping, and unsanitary conditions.

This not only impacts the aesthetic appeal of the city but also poses serious health risks and environmental hazards.  

A spot check by People Daily shows that a dumping site along the Nairobi City Market has grown into more than just a pile of waste; it is a monument of apathy.

The surrounding businesses, including eateries and chemists, suffer as complaints rise.  

Muhammad Amin, a nearby pharmacy manager, battles more than just medicine shortages and rising costs.

His daily struggle involves fighting off clouds of houseflies and choking odours that seep into his business space, forcing him to buy repellents regularly just to keep the place bearable. 

“It is costing us a lot, the smell is unbearable, especially when it rains. Customers complain all the time, and sometimes they just walk away without even stepping inside,” says Amin. 

The situation worsens during wet weather, as the rain mixes with the decaying waste, releasing a stronger stench that sends people fleeing.

For a business dependent on walk-ins and patient trust, the impact has been devastating. 

Erratic response  

“This pharmacy is my source of income, but this dump site is scaring people away. It is like we are being punished for someone else’s negligence,” Amin added. 

The waste collection schedule, he says, is erratic at best.

“They only come twice a week by then, the trash piles up, flies swarm everywhere, and the whole area smells like a rotting pit,” he says of Nairobi County waste collectors. 

Just a few steps from the pharmacy, Odinga Larry, a boda boda rider, echoes the frustration. He spends his entire day stationed near the site, ferrying passengers and goods across the city.

Unlike Amin, Larry has had to come to terms with the odour. 

“We complained, but no one listened. Now, we just cope. We have adapted to the smell because we have to survive. We have families to feed,” he says. 

Larry admits that the stench is a silent threat. “It’s not just about comfort. It’s about health. Breathing in this air every day causes harm to our lungs, which is not fair.”

He urges the City County to act, not with more promises, but with real, practical steps.  

“Let them collect the waste daily to clean this place. If not for us, at least for the children and customers who pass here every day,” Larry suggests. 

According to Pauline Muthoni, a businesswoman along Market Street, customers avoid the area.

She also notes that trucks transporting meat into the market are brought to be washed along the street, leaving behind blood stains, and causing the area to smell. 

“Our customers are not comfortable transacting business in a place like this because of the smell. We have raised complaints that are falling on deaf ears. The presence of this trash is harmful to us — we are losing appetite, and we are not sure what diseases it may cause,” she said. 

Fred Otieno, a butcher at the market, said that the county government takes two to three days to collect trash, which is a long time, adding that the bins fill up in just one day. 

“We are urging the government to collect the trash at least twice a day. This City Market was the first market in Nairobi, and it is sad to see it in such a sorry state,” he argues. 

The Nairobi county on July 16, 2025, remained mum about the filthy streets and markets amid calls for the authorities to act.