Newly installed dustbins in Nairobi CBD vandalised during protests

Nairobi County is counting losses after newly installed dustbins were destroyed during protests in the Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

The dustbins, which had been in place for barely a month, were uprooted and vandalised by suspected angry demonstrators who took to the streets to protest the recent death of Albert Ojwang.

Videos circulating online showed suspected protesters removing the bins from their designated posts, carrying them along the road and dragging them across pavements.

The dustbins had been part of Nairobi County’s renewed efforts to keep the city clean and promote better waste disposal habits among pedestrians. 

When launching the installation on May 2025, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria had warned city residents, hawkers, and business owners against tampering with the bins.

“These dustbins are strictly meant for use by pedestrians and not for hawkers, vendors, or business owners to dump commercial waste,” Mosiria emphasized during the launch.

The installation followed numerous complaints from residents over the lack of waste disposal points within the CBD, which they said hindered proper hygiene practices.

Responding to these concerns, the county government rolled out the first batch of bins in high-traffic areas, with plans to expand to neighborhoods, parks, and transport hubs.

Governor Johnson Sakaja had described the bins as more than just waste containers, saying they represented order, cleanliness, and modernity for Nairobi.

To safeguard the dustbins, the county had also announced a Ksh5,000 reward for anyone who reported incidents of vandalism. Despite this measure, the protests saw a number of the bins damaged or stolen.

Nairobi County is now assessing the extent of the damage as it plans the next steps to replace the destroyed bins and restore cleanliness in the city center.