Residents of Mukuru Kayaba, through their community-based organisation Haki Climate Conservation, organised a clean-up exercise on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as part of efforts to sustain the momentum created by the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies commemorations. The initiative sought to promote environmental stewardship, strengthen community responsibility, and advance Nairobi’s clean air agenda.
The activity follows Mukuru’s participation in city-wide engagements coordinated under the Breathe Nairobi Initiative, which works with communities to raise awareness on the importance of clean air and support actions that contribute to healthier urban environments.
Gracing the event were Nairobi County environmental officers, who joined community members, youth groups, and women’s organisations in the exercise. Their participation underscored the County’s commitment to supporting citizen-led actions that complement Nairobi’s wider waste management and clean air strategies.
Speaking during the event, Ms. Halima Abdulrahman, representing the Makadara Women’s Group, highlighted the importance of unity in environmental action.
“Umoja ni nguvu — as a community we need to be in groups so that we work together and teach our children about the environment,” she said. “When we act together, we not only clean our surroundings but also pass on a culture of care to the next generation.”
Community leaders from Haki Climate Conservation reiterated that the clean-up was a continuation of the awareness created during the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. They noted that beyond marking global events, communities must take ownership of their environments to ensure lasting impact.
“Clean Air Day showed us that lasting change begins with us,” said one organiser. “Through these clean-ups, we are turning awareness into daily action and making Mukuru a better place to live.”
The Nairobi County environmental officers commended the community’s initiative, noting that grassroots-led actions play a critical role in complementing the city’s broader environmental policy efforts. They reaffirmed the County’s commitment to working with community groups to enhance sustainable waste management and promote cleaner neighbourhoods.
The clean-up marks the beginning of a long-term plan by Haki Climate Conservation to conduct frequent environmental activities within Mukuru Kayaba, including clean-up drives, school sensitisation sessions, and tree-planting exercises. The group also plans to work with the County Government and private partners to strengthen waste-sorting and recycling practices in the area.
The Mukuru Kayaba initiative builds on the collaborative framework established under the Breathe Nairobi Initiative, which seeks to bring together community-based organisations, local government, and think tanks to tackle air pollution through coordinated, data-driven action. Linking grassroots participation to citywide air quality goals, the initiative is demonstrating that sustainable environmental change begins at the community level.
Beyond improving waste management, the exercise has opened dialogue on how residents can integrate environmental care into their livelihoods. The CBO, Haki CC have recently received a grant to purchase machines that will scale one of their initiatives of making charcoal briquettes from cartoon waste geared towards reducing indoor pollution.
The success of the Mukuru clean-up reflects the growing recognition that clean air is both a collective right and a shared responsibility. Through this activity, the residents of Mukuru Kayaba have shown that communities are not just beneficiaries of environmental policy but active partners in achieving a cleaner, healthier Nairobi.
About Breathe Nairobi
Breathe Nairobi is part of the global Breathe Cities Initiative, a partnership between the Clean Air Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and C40 Cities. Implemented in collaboration with the Nairobi City County Government, the initiative aims to improve air quality through data-driven decision-making, community engagement, and inclusive policies. Breathe Nairobi works with residents, policymakers, and partners to improve Nairobi’s air quality.