100 more arrested for littering and stepping on ‘Kidero grass’

Nairobi, Kenya: Close to 100 more people were arrested Tuesday in an operation by a squad formed to take care of the popular ‘Kidero grass’ in Nairobi.

This increased the number of those nabbed since Monday to about 200 as the team extended the operation to Mombasa Road, targeting hawkers selling foodstuffs.

Governor Evans Kidero said the operation had been extended to Mombasa Road up to the JKIA and other major roads to ensure the city is clean.

“The operation is still on and I urge Nairobians to ensure they don’t litter or walk on undesignated places. Let us ensure Nairobi is clean and green,” said Kidero when he was contacted on phone.

The exercise started very early in the morning and extended to the afternoon.

Kidero said the Nairobi City County government’s Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement team, that was deployed last week to monitor illegal littering and dumping, is now a fully-fledged squad.

The arrested were taken to the county courts where they were charged and fined. Kidero said the squad arrests and hands over the offenders to authorities for prosecution.

“Most of the offenders were arrested on grounds of refusing to comply with last weeks’ notice issued against illegal dumping and littering,” said Kidero.

Head of the squad, Tom Tinega, said they will extend the operation to other areas in the city to ensure dumping is heavily punished.