By Joshua Otieno | April 6, 2026
Nairobi City County has rolled out a new campaign to protect public infrastructure, urging residents to help curb rising cases of vandalism targeting newly installed litter bins.
Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement Geoffrey Mosiria called on Nairobi residents to act as the first line of defence, warning that the destruction and theft of public bins is undermining the city’s cleanliness and sustainability goals.
The appeal follows increased incidents in the Central Business District, where bins have been uprooted for the illegal scrap metal trade or destroyed during protests.
“These bins belong to you. If you see anyone stealing them, please tell them to stop.”
Mosiria noted that the county has begun replacing metallic bins with fibre-based alternatives that have no resale value, in a bid to discourage theft.
To strengthen enforcement, the county has deployed 24-hour surveillance and CCTV monitoring in vandalism hotspots across the city. In addition, a reward system has been introduced to encourage public cooperation, offering KSh 5,000 for identifying vandals and KSh 10,000 for information leading to scrap metal dealers involved in the trade.
The crackdown is supported by the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act, which provides for strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those found guilty of damaging public property.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve waste management, with tamper-resistant bins now being rolled out to residential areas such as Kilimani, Kileleshwa, and Lavington.
County officials say the success of the campaign will depend largely on public vigilance and collective responsibility in protecting shared infrastructure.
