Nairobi Students Lead Anti-Litter Campaign in Local Estates

Secondary school students from 12 Nairobi public schools have spearheaded Clean My Hood, a grassroots anti-litter campaign that removed 4.2 tonnes of plastic waste, e-waste, and organic refuse from estates across Eastlands, Central, and South B in just 14 days—proving youth agency in urban environmental stewardship. Led by eco-clubs from Starehe Boys’, Lang’ata High, and Dandora Mixed Day, over 1,200 learners partnered with Nairobi City County’s NawaNairobi programme, armed with gloves, sacks, and GPS-tagged reporting via the TakaCare app. We didn’t wait for adults. We started with our school gate—and kept going, said Faith Muthoni, 17, chair of Starehe’s Green Brigade. The campaign targeted illegal dumpsites, choked drainage lines, and matatu termini—key flashpoints in recent flooding. At Kayole Soweto Stage, students cleared a 100-metre stretch clogged with bottles and tyres, restoring water flow ahead of the short rains. Crucially, the drive integrated circular economy action: 1.8 tonnes of recyclables were handed to Taka Taka Solutions for processing, while organic waste fed school biogas digesters. County Environment CECM Geoffrey Ruku confirmed the initiative will be institutionalised: Clean My Hood grants (KSh 50,000 per school) open in January 2026 for waste-to-value projects—e.g., plastic bricks, eco-briquettes. Teachers report improved civic responsibility and leadership skills among participants. They’re not just cleaning estates—they’re redesigning belonging, said headteacher David Omondi of Lang’ata High. The Ministry of Education has added the campaign to its CBC Community Service Showcase, and KICD is developing a Sustainable Cities module inspired by the students’ field reports.