Why you must keep off 'Kidero grass'

The new Nairobi Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Team arrests a suspect for breaking city bylaws yesterday. The team of 50 officers is monitoring different parts of the city. [photo: courtesy]

In what many interpreted as an attempt to impress the US President, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero started an ambitious project to turn the city green in record time ahead of Barack Obama’s July visit.

Dr Kidero almost became a laughing stock as his grass wilted and even dried under the scorching sun despite workers using every trick in the book to keep it green.

The debate on the “Kidero grass” was so heated that even President Uhuru Kenyatta weighed and consoled the governor tongue-in-cheek: “Hon Kidero, the Governor of Nairobi don’t worry, plant it, it will grow.”

But those who assumed that Kidero was planting the grass solely to catch Obama’s eye could have been wrong. The governor is determined to ensure the grass, which is now looking up, grows by all means.

enviable city

In his own words, he wants to turn Nairobi into the enviable city in the sun that it once was.

To do that he is going to all lengths to ensure that not only the nascent grass and flowerbeds flourish, but that no one dumps litter in public places.

Yesterday, the City County arrested and took to court 71 people for such crimes as stepping on the now popular “Kidero grass” and dumping waste on the grass and walkways, among others.

The offenders were swiftly taken to court, charged and charged Sh2,000 each.

The arrests were made in the morning by a new county policing team.

Those who carelessly discarded unwanted facial wipes, tissue papers and used bus tickets or used scratch cards instantly found themselves in trouble with the “green army”.

The team, comprising 50 youths clad in green jackets inscribed Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Team, was deployed a few days ago by Kidero to monitor the beautification projects and ensure no one pollutes the city.

According to the county by-laws, it is a crime to walk on undesignated pathways or step on grass or flowerbeds.

The county government, according to the governor, invested Sh40 million to beautify the city ahead of the historic visit by the US President.

Last month, it embarked on a beautification exercise that involved landscaping along Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki Way.

The “green army” is a force other counties are likely to adopt to avoid piles of garbage emanating from uncontrolled dumping by members of the public and destruction of natural environment.

The governor, explained in a press statement that the county government was committed to ensuring the city is clean and returns to its former glory.

“As communicated last week the cost of restoring Nairobi is bearing heavily on the county government and we will do all within our powers to ensure sanity is brought back to this great city,” he said.

Kidero urged Nairobi residents to take charge, protect the environment and avoid littering and use the designated pathways.

“The county government is ready to work with residents and stakeholders to create a green City in the Sun and ensure Nairobi continues being the leading investment and holiday destination for many across the world,” Kidero added.

extensive training

The governor said the team would ensure that pedestrians keep to designated footpaths.

The new team, which has undergone extensive training in law enforcement, will monitor various parts of the central business district (CBD) and its environs.

“The young men and women who have undergone extensive training in law enforcement were deployed in various parts of the central business district and its environs as part of our Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement team,” Kidero said.

The team, which will be prowling the city daily, has been given special powers to arrest and hand over anyone found littering within the CBD or stepping on the grass or flowerbeds.

In one of his posts on his official Facebook page, Kidero had asked city residents to call the county hotline mobile number - 0725624489 - should anyone be harassed by the new officers.

In the past, county enforcement officers have been accused of soliciting bribes from city residents found stepping on flower beds, grass or talking on their phones while crossing the road, all of which are against the county by-laws.

“If anyone is harassed, call the hotline,” Kidero said in a terse comment after he was taken to task by Nairobians who claimed the new officers will only be asking for bribes.