The Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has directed the cleaning of dirty and used carrier bags with sewage water, an exercise common in Nairobi’s major informal settlements to come to an end with immediate effect.
This was after he bumped into tens of women collecting the bags, washing them in unclean water, drying them by the river banks before reselling them to traders within the Nairobi Markets.
During his impromptu visit to Mukuru kwa Reuben slums on Wednesday November 12, 2025, he met with women collecting and cleaning the bags using the flowing and contaminated water
One of the women confessed that they have to do the dirty job to enable them to cater for their children’s needs such as food, shelter,clothing and take them to school.
Another lady said that the dirty water posed a threat to their health explaining that in her case her nails fell off after using the water to wash the bags.
” I am shocked to find women washing used carrier bags with sewage water for resale a dangerous and unhygienic act that risk the lives of both residents and the women” he said.
These contaminated bags end up in major Nairobi markets such as Muthurwa, Gikomba, Toi, Marikiti, Wakulima, and Burma, exposing consumers to deadly diseases like cholera and typhoid” Mosiria revealed.
He has since directed that the cleaning using sewage water should be put to a stop. He stated that there would be plans to initiated better and safer ways of recycling the bags so as to put an end to the practices that endangers public health.
“I have stopped the operation immediately and initiated efforts to provide the women with safer, sustainable income alternatives through clean recycling programs.
While we understand their struggles, we will not tolerate practices that compromise public health. Anyone found handling or distributing contaminated materials will face the full force of the law.
Public health and safety are non-negotiable together, we must protect our people, our markets, and our city.” He wrote.
Most of the city residents who flock the stated markets to shop for food produce have obviously been exposed to the risk of diseases such as cholera and typhoid since the food is packaged in contaminated materials.
Clearly , the women who hail from the informal settlements, seemed to have no option but to indulge in the most dangerous activities.
Mosiria however cautioned individuals of dire consequences if they were found engaging in acts which pose a health hazard to city residents.
The move to halt the practices and plans to empower safer work by initiating recycling has been welcomed by many especially women who seemed to have been edged out by the exhausting and dirty work.
On the other hand many have commended the women for stepping up, being independent rather than being professional beggars on the streets.
However, many have called out on the county government including environmental authorities and those dealing with public health to chip in and have buyers who can purchase the collected bags from the women for proper and hygienically recycling processes.
