Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has issued a clarification after Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale's remarks on Nairobi River pollution sparked mixed reactions.
Duale on Tuesday, November 12, claimed that Nairobi River was not being polluted by people living in the informal settlements but by the middle class, adding that those in informal settlements have no garbage because they consume everything.
“The informal settlements do not pollute the Nairobi River; it's the middle class. Garbage is found in the middle class. The people in the informal settlements eat everything they have,” Duale stated during a session at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, November 13, the government spokesperson stated that the CS's remarks were taken out of context.
Mwaura claimed that Duale meant that the people in informal settlements had mastered the art of recycling and reusing waste materials creatively.
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"The comment by Aden Duale has been blown out of proportion. What he meant is that Kenyans living in the informal settlements have mastered the art of recycling & re-using waste materials creatively. The government encourages the middle class and all Kenyans to do the same," Mwaura stated.
Duale's remarks sent social media into a frenzy on Tuesday with a number of Kenyans expressing their displeasure.
A section of netizens claimed that the CS was insulting the people from the informal settlements and that he was being arrogant.
