New reforms to formally recognise waste pickers

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The government has launched a consultative engagement with waste pickers across Nairobi as part of a broader effort to formalise the sector, improve working conditions and expand recycling initiatives.

The move by Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS seeks to create safer and more organised jobs while acknowledging the long-overlooked contribution of waste pickers to Kenya’s environmental conservation efforts.

Barasa spoke after meeting waste pickers from Kamukunji, Dandora and Kayole in a consultative meeting to hear their experiences and challenges firsthand.

The dialogue focused on improving waste collection, sorting and recycling while taking care of the welfare of those at the heart of the system.

“The government of Kenya is committed to transforming the waste management system by promoting sustainable practices, strengthening recycling and ensuring that those who work within the sector are recognised and supported,” the CS said.

“Their voices, experiences and contributions are essential as we build a cleaner environment while creating sustainable livelihoods.”

During the meeting participants highlighted daily struggles, including lack of protective equipment, exposure to health hazards and inconsistent earnings.

For years, Kenya’s waste pickers have quietly supported recycling efforts, yet their work has largely gone unrecognised, leaving many to operate in unsafe conditions with unstable incomes.

Many have worked in the sector for decades, offering valuable knowledge that officials said will inform new policies and programmes.

The CS emphasised the importance of integrating waste pickers into the formal system, turning what has been largely informal labour into structured work with social and economic benefits.

“This engagement allows us to understand how policies and programmes can better support waste pickers and improve the overall waste management value chain,” Barasa said.

“We aim to create a sector that not only protects the environment but also empowers communities economically.”

Barasa said formalising waste management has the potential to create significant green jobs, especially for youth and residents of low-income areas who rely on recycling activities for their livelihoods.

The government plans to strengthen partnerships between counties, recycling industries, and waste picker associations to expand employment opportunities and enhance environmental conservation.

The CS was accompanied by the chairman of the National Environment Management Authority Emilio Mamo director of enforcement Ayub Macharia and President of the Kenya Waste Pickers Association Gesore Nyabuti.

The government’s move to recognise and integrate waste pickers into the formal waste management system is therefore seen as a step toward addressing both environmental and urban challenges.

Experts argue that strengthening waste collection, recycling and involving waste pickers more systematically in the management chain could help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in drains and rivers, ultimately improving urban flood resilience.

As a result, even moderate rainfall can quickly overwhelm the drainage system and lead to flooding in low-lying areas.

Plastics, polythene bags and other improperly disposed waste often accumulate in drainage channels, preventing water from flowing freely during storms.

Environmental experts said that while the rainfall was intense, poor waste management and clogged drainage systems significantly worsened the flooding.

The renewed focus on waste management also comes days after heavy rains triggered flooding in several parts of Nairobi last Friday, once again exposing the city’s long-standing drainage challenges.