Sakaja Seals KSh50 Billion Deal With Chinese Firm to Launch Dandora Waste-to-Energy Project
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has taken a major step toward resolving the city’s decades-old garbage problem after signing a Project Development Agreement with the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) to advance the long-awaited Dandora Waste-to-Energy Plant. The agreement, finalized on Friday, September 19, 2025, also involves the Ministry of Energy and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), paving the way for the completion of the 45-megawatt Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Governor Sakaja hailed the signing as a milestone achievement, noting that the project had stalled under previous administrations since its conception in 2013. He emphasized that the initiative will not only turn Nairobi’s waste into clean energy but also create thousands of green jobs for residents. This project will transform the city while creating sustainable employment for Nairobi’s youth, he said. Once operational, the plant will convert solid waste into electricity, addressing the capital’s waste management challenges while promoting environmental sustainability and supporting Kenya’s clean energy transition goals.
The KSh50 billion project will also benefit from the county’s 4,000 newly hired Green Army workers, who will play a key role in waste collection and management. Additionally, the establishment of the Green Nairobi Company Limited—an autonomous agency dedicated to structured waste collection and disposal—will further streamline operations. Sakaja described the initiative as a game-changer that positions Nairobi as a continental leader in green innovation. The Dandora Waste-to-Energy Plant, once complete, will mark a historic shift from landfill dependency to sustainable waste management, symbolizing a cleaner, more resilient future for Kenya’s capital.