City Hall-Zoomlion garbage contract in limbo after court issue stop orders
The implementation of the controversial multibillion solid waste management contract awarded to a previously condemned Ghanian firm, Zoomlion Ghana Limited by the Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s led Nairobi County government is in limbo after a Nairobi High Court issued conservatory orders barring its execution pending hearing and determination of a suit challenging the deal.
The petition, filed at the Milimani Commercial and Tax Division is challenging the contract granted to Zoomlion for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer of an integrated solid waste management system in Nairobi.
On March 5, 2026, Justice Moses Ado issued a temporary block on the contract, halting its execution until March 16, 2026 when the matter will be heard for further directions.
Justice Ado granted a conservatory order, allowing any party the liberty to apply for adjustments while the case is pending.
“That in the meantime, a conservatory order in terms of prayer (b) of the application is hereby granted on a temporary basis pending the said mention, with liberty to any party to apply,” Judge Ado ordered.
The petition was filed by Jeremy Kinyua Emilio contending that awarding the contract to the Ghanaian company was illegal and unconstitutional, arguing that it lacked the required approval of the Attorney General.
“That this honourable court be and hereby grants conservatory orders to stop the 1st-4th respondents from executing the agreement and implementing the award to the interested party (Zoomlion Ghana Limited), tender No. NCC/ENV/RFP/109/2025-2026 for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and transfer of the integrated solid waste management system for the Nairobi City County Government, pending the hearing and determination of this application,” part of the orders reads.
Kinyua requested that the court stop the Nairobi County government, the Environment Chief Officer, the Director of Supply Chain Management, and the County Secretary from executing the contract.
Notably, Kinyua raised concerns about Zoomlion’s Sh50 million bank guarantee, describing it as disproportionate and indicative of the tender’s multibillion-shilling value, which he warned could lead to substantial losses for the county.
The case will be mentioned on Monday, March 16, 2026, for further directions.
