After weeks of online mockery over #KideroGrass, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is not about to relent. Today, the Governor unveiled a team mandated to arrest those found stepping on flowerbeds or littering the city centre.
The team is part of the Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement team and comprises of more than 50 youths. They are mandated to oversee proper disposal of solid waste within the city and prevent residents from stepping on flowerbeds and other projects, including the grass.
Through his Facebook page, Dr Kidero said the team has undergone intense training in law enforcement. “This Morning more than 50 young men and women who have undergone extensive training in law enforcement were deployed in various parts of the CBD.”
Apart from ensuring that pedestrians use designated footpaths without stepping on flowerbeds or littering within the city, the team has also been empowered to arrest and hand over anyone found littering and stepping on flowerbeds.
“Anyone found culpable of the above offenses will be fined a minimum of Ksh2,000,” he said. He said more youths will be employed to see through the results of the beautification programme. “I am requesting Nairobi residents to fully cooperate with this team for a cleaner and safer Nairobi. The County has invested more than Ksh40 million on the beautification programme and we would like to minimise the maintenance costs,” he added.
Governor Kidero was last month the subject of online criticism when he tweeted days to the visit by President Barack Obama that Nairobians should let #KideroGrass grow. The county government was also criticised after a worker was caught on video uprooting newly planted flowers along Mombasa road. The county officials explained later that the flowers were to be replanted properly because they had rushed to complete the project ahead of President Obama’s arrival.
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