More than 30,000 traders who visit Daraja Mbili market in Kisii town every week have been urged to maintain cleanliness in order to promote cleaner, healthier and more livable urban spaces.

Speaking after leading a clean-up exercise at the market which serves South Nyanza counties ahead of the World Cities Day 2026 celebrations, stakeholders drawn from the national and county governments appealed to the traders to take responsibility for the waste they generate by ensuring proper waste segregation and disposal.

Kisii County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Grace Nyarango also called upon residents to keep their surroundings clean, noting that waste in Kisii primarily originates from households, followed by markets, schools and health facilities.

Nyarango said the development of clean cities was timely as Kenyans will seek affordable housing where basic utilities are adequately provided even as they move from the peri-urban areas.

She lauded Governor Arati for leading in waste management efforts following the rehabilitation of Nyambera dumpsite to Etaya Governor’s Park as well as the deployment of youth, popularly recognised as Green Army to maintain cleanliness within the county.

“The rehabilitated park has put Kisii County on the world map as a recreational facility where families can walk, relax and have fun and therefore, let us all embrace it and keep it clean,” Nyarango urged.

Kisii County Director of Housing Linnet Nyakiti noted that this year’s theme of “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All” is meant to encourage the residents to make the cities more livable, clean and generate wealth through waste management.

Nyakiti noted that garbage waste from the markets can be recycled into various products such as fertilizer, through the support of the recycling and processing facility at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre.

“These waste management efforts will contribute to better improved housing which our government is championing through the affordable housing programs which are also quite a number here in Kisii County,” she added.

The Housing Director pointed out that the Nyanchwa Affordable Housing Project is nearly sold out, adding that the demand for decent, beautiful and affordable houses is high in Kisii.

On his part, the County Secretary Ernest Osoro cited Nyambera as evidence that proper waste management initiatives can transform a dumpsite into a habitable environment.

Osoro said that through the Kazi Mashinani Programme, the county government of Kisii had employed over 1000 youths to conduct clean-up activities throughout the county.

Citing the expansion of neighbouring markets like Suneka, Nyakoe and Mwembe, the County Secretary stressed the need to maintain cleanliness within the markets saying it would enable Kisii to attain a city status.

by Mercy Osongo and Jane Naitore