Trash to Power: Sakaja Seals 45MW Dandora Energy Deal

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has confirmed that the long-awaited Dandora Waste-to-Energy project is finally on track, with a 45-megawatt power plant set to rise from the city’s largest dumpsite.

On Friday, September 19, 2025, Sakaja held a high-level meeting with the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC), culminating in the signing of a Project Development Agreement with Nairobi City County. The Ministry of Energy, through EPRA, is finalizing the Power Purchase Agreement to pave the way for construction.

“This project will transform the city while creating green jobs for Nairobi’s youth,” the governor said, hailing the milestone as a breakthrough after decades of stalled efforts.

The plant will convert solid waste into electricity, tackling Nairobi’s persistent garbage problem while promoting sustainability and creating new economic opportunities.

The development comes as the county strengthens its waste management systems, recently hiring 4,000 Green Army workers on permanent and pensionable terms—the first such move since 1987. The county has also added 27 tippers, 24 compactor trucks, and skip loaders to boost garbage collection.

Sakaja further announced the creation of the Green Nairobi Company Limited, a dedicated entity that will oversee solid waste management and drive the Dandora project.

Describing the waste-to-energy initiative as a “game-changer,” Sakaja said it would position Nairobi as a continental leader in innovative waste management solutions.

Read: Nairobi MCA Resigns in Protest Over Sakaja’s Governance Failures

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