Kenya court temporarily halts Nairobi waste management tender

KENYA – The High Court of Kenya has temporarily suspended the implementation of a major solid waste management tender awarded by the Nairobi City County Government to Zoomlion Ghana Limited, pending further directions from the court.

In an order issued on March 5, 2026, Justice Moses Ado granted a conservatory order blocking the county government from executing or implementing the tender until March 16, 2026, when the matter will be mentioned again in court.

The disputed contract involves the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer of an integrated solid waste management system for Nairobi.

The case was filed at the Milimani Commercial and Tax Division following a petition challenging the legality of the procurement process.

The application was filed by Jeremy Kinyua Emilio, who argues that the tender was awarded unlawfully and without the required approval from the Office of the Attorney General of Kenya.

In his petition, Kinyua asked the court to issue orders preventing several county officials from implementing the agreement.

The respondents named in the case include the Chief Officer for Environment, the Director of Supply Chain Management, and the County Secretary of the Nairobi City County Government.

The petitioner maintains that awarding the contract to the Ghanaian firm may violate procurement rules and could potentially undermine existing waste management agreements already being implemented by local contractors.

Concerns over impact on local service providers

According to the petition, at least two local companies are currently executing waste management contracts in Nairobi under earlier tenders.

One contractor reportedly secured a 2025 tender to supply heavy equipment, plant and machinery at the Dandora Dumpsite, supporting waste management operations at the city’s main landfill.

Another local firm is handling solid waste collection, transportation and disposal services in Kibra.

Kinyua claims that introducing a new large-scale contract could overlap with and disrupt these existing agreements, particularly as some local contractors have allegedly faced delays in receiving payments from the county government.

The petitioner also raised concerns about the KES50 million bank guarantee provided by Zoomlion Ghana Limited, arguing that the financial commitment indicates a contract worth billions of Kenyan shillings, which he says warrants closer scrutiny.

The court’s temporary suspension remains in place until the matter is reviewed again on March 16, 2026, when the court will provide further directions on the case.

The outcome could have significant implications for Nairobi’s waste management strategy, as the city continues to seek long-term solutions to its mounting solid waste challenges while balancing procurement transparency and support for local service providers.

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