NAIROBI, Kenya — City residents have been warned to be extra cautious following the exposure of a disturbing and illegal operation in which used plastic carrier bags are being washed in raw sewage and resold in Nairobi markets.
According to Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria, a syndicate of women in Mukuru Kwa Ruben slum was caught washing tens of soiled bags in sewage water before drying them for resale.
The revelation, backed by photos and videos shared by the county, shows the women collecting the bags from polluted streams running through the informal settlement.
“It is deeply disturbing and unfortunate that some women in Mukuru Kwa Ruben have resorted to washing used carrier bags with sewage water for resale,” Mosiria said. “This dangerous and unhygienic practice puts both city residents and the women themselves at serious health risk.”
Investigations revealed that the contaminated bags were being repackaged and distributed to major city markets, including Muthurwa, Gikomba, Toi, Marikiti, Wakulima, and Burma, as well as smaller retail outlets across the city.
Health experts warn that such materials pose severe public health risks. Sewage water carries harmful bacteria, toxins, and viruses that can remain active on surfaces even after drying. When food is packaged in such bags, it can easily transmit waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery.
“This is not just a health issue; it’s a crisis of public safety and dignity,” said a county health inspector who spoke on condition of anonymity. “These contaminated plastics are ending up in the hands of food vendors and consumers without their knowledge.”
Mosiria said most of the women involved came from vulnerable backgrounds and were driven by poverty to engage in the unlawful trade. He called for social empowerment programs to help them transition to safer, sustainable means of livelihood.
The Environment Department has since dismantled the illegal washing points and warned of strict enforcement against anyone found handling contaminated packaging materials.
“We will not allow anyone to compromise the health and safety of Nairobi residents,” Mosiria emphasized. “Any person found distributing or reusing contaminated plastics will face the full force of the law.”
Public health officers have urged Nairobians to avoid reusing carrier bags of unknown origin, particularly those sold cheaply in informal markets, and to report any suspicious recycling activities to county authorities.
