Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has emphasized the need for discipline and adherence to the law across the capital, warning that lawlessness and disorder will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking during the Jukwaa La Usalama Nairobi Edition, Sakaja said that whether it is nightclubs, boda boda riders, garbage collectors, or hawkers, all Nairobians must operate within the law for the city to thrive.
“I want to assure you we will have order in our city. Rules have to be followed by everyone whether it is nightclubs, boda bodas, garbage collectors, or hawkers. Let’s all play our part so that Nairobi can function effectively,” Sakaja said.
On waste management, the Governor expressed concern about rogue private garbage collectors who illegally dump waste across the city. He revealed that the county, in collaboration with NTSA, will revoke licenses and seize number plates of those found flouting regulations.
“We are serious about this. We have already employed 4,000 personnel under the Green Army, invested in more tippers and compactors, and signed a waste-to-energy agreement that will generate 45MW of power from waste. In addition, 10 percent of every water bill will go towards sustaining Green Nairobi Company Limited to ensure effective collection and disposal of waste,” he explained.
Addressing boda boda operators, Sakaja acknowledged complaints about harassment but urged riders to follow traffic laws to reduce accidents and confrontations with enforcement officers.
“If we all follow the law, no one will be arrested or harassed. Let’s all do our part, and order will prevail,” he said.
The Governor also raised concern about illegal billboards being erected under political protection, vowing to remove them from key roads including Loitoktok and James Gichuru.
“How do you put up illegal billboards at night and then threaten officers who try to remove them? We will enforce the law and restore order,” Sakaja stated.
On hawkers, he struck a balanced tone, recognizing their right to earn a living but insisting they must respect designated spaces and times to avoid blocking pavements and clashing with licensed businesses.
Public officers, he added, must also be treated with dignity. “In some countries, if you attack a firefighter, you go straight to jail. Here, our officers are sometimes attacked while serving the public. That must stop. They work for us all, and they deserve respect,” Sakaja said.
The Governor pointed out that the county is investing heavily in infrastructure across all 85 wards from Kilimani and Embakasi to Starehe, Eastleigh, Zimmerman, Roysambu, Westlands, and Lavington through drainage, roads, and walkways.
