Nairobi governor signs landmark deal with Chinese firm for Dandora waste-to-energy plant

KENYA – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced the signing of a Project Development Agreement with the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC), advancing the long-delayed Dandora waste-to-energy project.

The deal, signed on September 20, in partnership with the Ministry of Energy through the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), marks a crucial step toward finalizing a Power Purchase Agreement for the 45-megawatt facility.

Speaking after the signing, Governor Sakaja hailed the agreement as a milestone “decades in the making,” noting that past administrations had failed to move the project to this advanced stage.

“This project will transform the city while creating green jobs for Nairobi’s youth,” Sakaja said.

Once completed, the plant will convert Nairobi’s municipal solid waste into electricity, offering a sustainable solution to the capital’s perennial garbage crisis while boosting the city’s clean energy capacity.

Tackling Nairobi’s waste crisis

Nairobi generates an estimated 3,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, much of which ends up at the overburdened Dandora dumpsite, the largest landfill in East Africa.

The waste-to-energy plant is expected to ease pressure on the site, reduce environmental pollution, and promote a circular economy.

The governor noted that the recently employed 4,000 Green Army workers, now on permanent and pensionable terms, will play a central role in managing waste collection and supply to the facility.

The soon-to-be-launched Green Nairobi Company Limited, a semi-autonomous body, will further enhance structured and modern waste collection and disposal services across the city.

A KES50 billion investment

The project is expected to cost around KES50 billion (US$385 million). It is billed as one of Africa’s most ambitious waste-to-energy undertakings, positioning Nairobi as a potential regional leader in innovative urban waste management.

Governor Sakaja described it as a “game-changer” that will not only tackle Nairobi’s garbage problem but also deliver environmental and economic dividends.

The Dandora project was first conceived in 2013 but has faced repeated setbacks. In 2020, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) shelved their joint implementation plans due to feasibility study delays and procurement hurdles.

The new agreement with CNEEC signals renewed momentum and a clearer roadmap toward implementation.

If successful, it could reshape Nairobi’s waste management landscape while contributing to Kenya’s broader clean energy transition under Vision 2030.

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