NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced plans to introduce a new “conservancy fee” to be charged to all residents through their water bills, as part of efforts to overhaul the capital’s struggling waste management system.
Speaking during an interview with Vivid Voice News, Mr Sakaja said the county government had already held consultations with the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) to integrate the levy into monthly water billing.
The governor argued that the additional charge would provide a predictable funding stream to improve garbage collection and disposal in a city long plagued by mounting waste.
“Nairobi needs sustainable solutions that are not quick fixes, especially on the issue of garbage. We have finally agreed with WASREB to include the conservancy fee in the water bill,” Sakaja said.
“When I was growing up in this city, every bill of water had a component that included Solid waste management, which disappeared. But now with this fee, everybody will be paying because it is sustainable; we will be able to service our vehicles and other logistics,” he added.
What residents currently pay
At present, an average Nairobi household pays about KSh1,200 for water consumption alone. Once sewerage charges, meter rent, standing charges and 16 per cent VAT are factored in, the total monthly bill typically rises to around KSh2,000.
If the proposed conservancy fee is implemented, residents would see an increase in their overall water bills, though the county government has yet to disclose the exact amount of the levy.
The administration says the funds will primarily be used to repair ageing waste collection vehicles, purchase durable new equipment and expand coverage across all wards.
County officials have previously cited mechanical breakdowns and fuel constraints as major contributors to irregular garbage collection.
Turning waste into revenue
Mr Sakaja said the county intends to work with the national government and private-sector partners to ensure that waste management becomes revenue-generating rather than a financial burden.
“In the past, garbage was just a cost centre; there was no revenue, and that led to pending bills. So we are partnering with the national government because they will do the offtake of fertiliser that will come from the waste,” Sakaja said.
The plan aligns with broader national initiatives aimed at modernising waste treatment infrastructure and promoting recycling, composting and energy recovery from refuse.
Kenya has in recent years stepped up enforcement of environmental regulations, including its 2017 ban on plastic carrier bags and ongoing efforts to reduce single-use plastics in protected areas.
However, urban waste management remains a major challenge, particularly in rapidly growing cities such as Nairobi, where population pressure has outpaced infrastructure expansion.
Dandora relocation and national support
The announcement comes a week after President William Ruto said the national government had reached an agreement with Nairobi County to relocate the long-contested Dandora dumpsite to Ruai.
Addressing residents in Nairobi on 8 February, the president said the project would form part of a joint comprehensive waste management programme between the national and county governments.
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“We have agreed to clean the city of Nairobi. Nairobi cannot be the city in the garbage. We have sat down with the governor. I will get money from the national government so that we can add to that of the county government so that we can clean the city of Nairobi,” Ruto said.
The proposed programme includes the establishment of a modern waste treatment facility designed to convert refuse into fertiliser, energy and other usable products, a model increasingly adopted in large metropolitan centres seeking to reduce landfill dependency.
Public reaction and next steps
While the county government maintains that the levy is necessary for long-term sustainability, the proposal may face scrutiny from residents already grappling with high living costs.
Civil society groups have previously called for greater transparency in how local authorities manage environmental levies and service charges.
County officials say public engagement forums will be conducted before implementation, including civic education on proper waste disposal and the use of litter bins to curb vandalism and illegal dumping.
If approved, the conservancy fee could mark a structural shift in how Nairobi finances urban sanitation, moving from ad hoc funding to a ring-fenced, service-based model tied directly to utility billing.
