Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark visited the Dandora dumpsite on Thursday, December 11, 2025, in a visit that shone a spotlight on environmental collaboration between Kenya and Denmark.
The Queen’s tour showcased the ongoing efforts in environmental management and the drive for green growth in Kenya.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rebecca Miano accompanied the Queen. Miano announced that the Queen was taken through the details of the Dandora Landfill project.
The Dandora Landfill project is central to the visit. It is a Danida-backed initiative with ambitious goals.
The project aims to transform the infamous dumpsite, long known as one of Nairobi’s biggest environmental challenges, into a hub for the circular economy and sustainable livelihoods.
“This morning, accompanying Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark on a site visit to the Dandora Landfill project, a powerful symbol of the strong Kenya-Denmark partnership,” CS Miano stated.
The CS praised Denmark’s role, noting that its dedication “ensures this work is people-centred, directly improving the livelihoods of our local communities”.
The royal tour comes just months after the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) issued a strong directive to all county governments across the nation.
NEMA’s notice on Friday, September 19, 2025, reinforced the implementation of two key pieces of legislation:
The Sustainable Waste Management Act (SWMA) and Waste Management Regulations, 2024
The primary goal of this directive is to enhance the segregation of waste at all designated dumpsites nationwide.
Under the new regulations, Kenya is officially transitioning towards a circular economy where waste is viewed as a valuable resource.
To support this effort, NEMA requires strict adherence to new waste segregation rules:
Waste generators must segregate waste at the source using colour-coded bins.
Green bins should be designated for organic waste.
Black bins should be designated for general waste.
Blue bins should be designated for recyclables.
Waste transporters must only carry segregated waste in compliance with the set categories.
County governments are mandated to provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate this transformation.
NEMA has warned that it remains “at liberty to invoke the provisions of section 27 of the SWMA on compliance and enforcement” for non-compliant counties.
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