This archive report was first published on 23 August 2021.
On August 23, 2021, Nairobi's Acting Governor, Anne Kananu, signed into law the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Bill, 2021, aimed at maintaining a clean and hygienic environment in the city.
The new law imposes fines ranging from Sh10,000 to Sh500,000 and imprisonment terms of six to 12 months for various public nuisances, including blowing one's nose without a handkerchief or tissue paper, spitting in public, and urinating in undesignated spaces.
Residents are also prohibited from sleeping in kitchens or food stores, discharging dirty water or sewer into streets or water channels, and obstructing roads or streets with trees and hedges.
Additionally, the new regulations ban playing loud music, smoking in undesignated places, and riding motorcycles or driving on footpaths, attracting similar fines and imprisonment terms.
Acting Governor Kananu urged residents to familiarize themselves with the new laws to avoid heavy punishment, stating, "Nairobi is the face of Kenya. We all need a clean and hygienic environment to live and work in."
County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka emphasized that the application of the law will be strict, noting that the Act empowers the county to take all necessary measures for maintaining a clean and sanitary environment.
