Kenyan Politician in Trouble After Giving Zoomlion Controversial 20-Year Waste Management Contract
- Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja is facing backlash for awarding Zoomlion a 20-year waste management contract amid transparency concerns
- Critics have questioned the procurement process after only Zoomlion bid in the contract worth billions of shillings
- The central government is said to have been part of the procurement process that has birthed the Zoomlion deal
Zoomlion Ghana Limited is at the centre of a procurement controversy in Kenya, with the Nairobi governor facing criticism for awarding it a 20-year waste management contract.
Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja awarded a deal that covers the management of a 76-acre dumpsite and the creation of an integrated solid waste system for the whole city.
Source: Facebook
Mambomseto reported that the contract is worth billions of shillings and gives one private company exclusive control over a major public service and asset for two decades.
The Nation reported that the dealings with Zoomlion were kept secret throughout the procurement and contracting stages.
Sakaja reportedly pitched Zoomlion as the only solution to Nairobi’s challenges with waste management.
The central government run by the Ruto administration is reportedly said to have been part of the procurement process that has birthed the Zoomlion deal.
Zoomlion Waste Services was incorporated as a company in Kenya on August 23, 2025, with Zoomlion Ghana as the sole shareholder.
Zoomlion had faced similar opposition in Mombasa, a city county located in the Coastal region of Kenya, after being sued over a 35-year contract valued at about $131.7 million.
The tender, numbered NCC/ENV/RFP/109/2025-2026, was opened on January 8, 2026. When bids were reviewed, Zoomlion emerged as the only bidder.
This raised immediate questions about how the process was handled. For a project of this size and length, open and competitive bidding is expected to attract multiple local and international firms.
The fact that only one company participated suggests that the process may not have been fully open or attractive to other potential bidders.
Critics argue that this situation weakens confidence in the fairness of the award and raises concerns about whether public procurement rules were properly followed.
Public-private partnership projects are guided by laws that require transparency and oversight. These laws are meant to protect public resources and ensure value for money.
There are concerns that key steps were either rushed or skipped in the deal. There are also concerns about a lack of consultation.
Zoomlion criticism in Ghana
Zoomlion has faced similar criticism in Ghana over its stranglehold on waste management deals.
The Mahama administration said it will not renew the state contract with the Youth Employment Agency after corruption claims over the years.
According to a letter from the presidency shared by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni in June 2025, all payments made to Zoomlion after the contract’s expiration will undergo a thorough audit.
Source: Facebook
The letter, first shared by Awuni, was in response to a petition filed by the investigative journalist on April 27.
The contract with Zoomlion has long been criticised as not offering value for money and being exploitative.
There have been complaints that the street sweepers do not make enough from the contract.
The government said it plans to increase the fees paid to sanitation workers to ensure a more livable income.
Additionally, fumigation contracts currently in place will be reviewed for performance, and any that fall short of acceptable standards will be terminated, following advice from the Attorney-General.
Before this, YEA CEO Malik Basintale vowed to ensure changes to the work terms of Zoomlion cleaners.
Read also
Full passport details of Yaytseslav shared as government pursues him over secret recordings
Jospong Group signs deal with German company
In 2024, YEN.com.gh reported that the Jospong Group of Companies and its Nigerian subsidiary, Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, struck an export deal with a German-based company.
The German company in question was FIMA Industries GmbH and Faun Umwelttechnik GmbH.
The export deal involved exporting waste management services and equipment, and is expected to promote sustainable practices and a cleaner environment.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
