A new trend is silently taking over the Kenyan state development tenders; One bidder, Thirty years and Billions of Shillings. One may call this controversial as a ‘triple threat’ that is done behind closed curtains and is only unveiled to the public when the deal is done. From the moment the Adani airport takeover sparked a national outcry to the quiet incorporation of Zoomlion Waste Services in Nairobi, the pattern of secretive procurement has taken hold of the state.
One may wonder why the recent development tenders do not reflect on the ethical processes that reflect transparency and competition, public participation, accountability and whose interests truly are based on the the growth of the nation. Instead, they have taken an alternative route of secrecy for instance in this case the latest Zoomlion incorportation to Nairobi Waste manangement collection.
Zoomlion Waste Management Services is a subsidiary of Ghana-based environmental management giant and a branch of Jospong Group of Companies that was founded in 2006. The company has since grown to be one of the dominant private owned waste management firms in Africa that offers services like waste collection, sanitation logistics, recycling, landfill management and environmental engineering.
Over the past two decades it has expanded its branches in Togo, Angola, Zambia, Liberia and Equitorial Guinea.
In Kenya, Zoomlion\u2019s recent incorporation into Nairobi\u2019s waste management framework marks its latest expansion on the continent. However, like other recent state-linked tenders, including the controversial Adani airport deal and the Government-to-Government (G2G) oil import arrangement aimed at improving supply efficiency and stabilizing fuel prices, the Zoomlion agreement has faced significant public backlash and scrutiny. Critics point to what they describe as a rushed and opaque procurement process, raising concerns about transparency, public participation, and adherence to established regulatory procedures.
One may be wondering how Zoomlion entered the Nairobi waste collection franchise, the following is a timeline on how they got involved;
Late 2024: Early Engagements Begin
Initial discussions between Nairobi County officials and parties linked to Zoomlion Waste Services reportedly began as the county struggled with persistent waste collection failures, illegal dumping, and mounting pressure to reform its sanitation systems.
Early 2025: Internal Deliberations and Structuring
County leadership and relevant administrative bodies began internal deliberations on possible partnership frameworks. At this stage, details of the proposed arrangement remained largely undisclosed to the public, with no formal public participation or competitive tender announcements widely communicated.
Mid 2025: Corporate and Operational Groundwork
Incorporation and administrative processes linked to Zoomlion\u2019s operational presence in Nairobi began taking shape. Preparatory steps included establishing legal and operational structures necessary to facilitate the company\u2019s entry into the county\u2019s waste management ecosystem.
Late 2025: Agreement Moves Toward Implementation
Operational planning intensified, signaling the transition from negotiation to implementation. Waste management restructuring plans involving private sector participation began quietly advancing within county systems.
Early 2026: Public Disclosure and National Scrutiny
The arrangement entered the public domain, sparking scrutiny from civil society groups, governance watchdogs, political leaders, and Nairobi residents. Questions emerged over procurement transparency, contract terms, financial implications, and whether due process had been followed.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the Zoomlion partnership, presenting it as part of a broader effort to modernise the capital\u2019s struggling waste management system. Sakaja has consistently framed private sector participation as a practical solution to decades of inefficiency, arguing that Nairobi\u2019s sanitation crisis requires urgent structural intervention. His position appears aligned with the national government\u2019s development posture under President William Ruto, whose administration has promoted public-private partnerships as essential to accelerating infrastructure and service delivery.
\u201cWe must embrace partnerships that bring efficiency, technology, and lasting solutions to Nairobi\u2019s waste problem. Our duty is to deliver a clean and dignified city for residents.\u201d
\u2014 Johnson Sakaja, Governor of Nairobi
This alignment between county and state leadership has provided political backing that strengthens Zoomlion\u2019s foothold despite mounting scrutiny. Similar signals have also emerged in Mombasa, where local authorities have expressed openness to comparable arrangements, reinforcing the perception of a coordinated, state-supported shift toward private waste management solutions.
Kenya is at crossroads, we are told these deals are partnerships for progress yet the recent ones in most cases are publicised when the handshake is done. The source of bidding itself is a monopoly since most local private SMEs find about it when its too late. In summary, the non-disclosure of these bidding are unfair to the SMEs and such missed opportunities can hinder their thrive in a competitive environment of foreigners that is backed by the state. Such local business my feel this kind of act as betrayal.
For the ordinary mwananchi, the Zoomlion parternship brings a mix of hope, skepticism and concern. On one hand, improved waste collection promises a cleaner and greener streets, better health from reduced dumpsites and more reliable sanitation services that have for the longest time been a headache for the county.
On the other hand, the opaque nature of the deal has sparked fears that taxpayers may ultimately have to face the financial burden head on of the long term contracts. For the Small-scale waste collectors and informal sector workers, who previously and heavily relied on county tenders and local contractors, they may have to find another alternative for their livelihood.
The terms of the contracts are largely undisclosed to the public and this makes the majority of the nation blind as questioning or interpreting the details is next to impossible. The people of Nairobi do not know what lies ahead of them in terms of management i.e whether the company will be foreign managed or just stay local, the interests of both parties involved; the state and the county government are they focused on delivering or is it political interests.
The company’s reputation is questionable. Zoomlion has had a rough and troubled past. In 2013, the bank was stated debarment by the World Bank for two years for bribery concerns in Liberia. In Ghana, reports indicate that the contractor has faced numerous allegations of overcharging the government, underpaying workers and failing to maintain equipment despite of being paid.
Zoomlion\u2019s expansion in Nairobi and Mombasa highlights a growing trend of large public-private deals being finalized with minimal transparency. While political leaders like President William Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja defend the partnership as a necessary step toward efficiency and cleaner cities, ordinary citizens face mixed outcomes\u2014improved waste collection but concerns over hidden costs, lost livelihoods, and exclusion from decision-making. As legal scrutiny continues in Mombasa and calls for accountability grow, the Zoomlion deal underscores the delicate balance between service delivery and transparency in Kenya\u2019s public sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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