Cleaning the streets of Kigali, Rwanda
Some common prejudices about large African cities: noisy, overcrowded and drowning in dirt. Will it really be like that?
Mandatory cleaning of public spaces by the community and women’s cooperatives help keep trash off city streets. Kigaliearning it the title of cleanest city in Africa.
But how did the capital of Rwanda achieve this title?
“I get up at 4 am. And I come here, always. I start my work at 6. I work as a sweeper in the city of Kigali. Kigali is very clean, everything is fine, I’m very proud of it,” says sweeper Zahara Nyiramajyambere.
The collective effort to keep Kigali clean has an important socioeconomic dimension. These women, spread across different streets, are organized into private cooperatives. This may contribute to Kigali’s reputation as the cleanest city in Africa, but will it also help female cleaners earn a stable income to support their families?
“Having this job gives me credibility. As a worker, I can ask for a loan. People trust me, they can lend me money to feed my children, and I pay it back when I receive my salary,” says Nyiramajyambere. “I’m a woman and a man at the same time. My husband isn’t here with me. He’s in prison. So I have no support other than cleaning these streets.”
After the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, the Rwandan government, in an effort to rebuild the country from scratch, took several measures to ensure not only the cleanliness of the city, but also environmental protection. It will have been worth it ban plastic bags and raise awareness among citizens about the need to keep everything clean?
“Yes, it helped a lot. Before, citizens didn’t understand why they would pay someone to take care of their trash. They believed that, instead of paying for a cleaning service, they just had to take the trash out of their homes and dump it in ditches in the streets,” explains Valerie Mukamana, local leader responsible for cleaning in the Rwezamenyo cell.
A monthly fee for cleaning services It also certainly helped to ingrain among citizens the idea that cleaning and maintaining the city is an important investment in the future. But how did this charge, initially unwanted, turn into a shared sense of responsibility — and even pride — in relation to the environment?
“The mentality of the citizens of Kigali has changed. Understanding of sanitation and hygiene in general has improved. They understand the need for cleanliness. They are intelligent!” says Mukamana.
As unlikely as it may seem when looking at many African cities, Kigali stands out for its cleanliness. Many cities on the continent face challenges in waste management. How did the capital of Rwanda distinguish itself, setting a benchmark for urban cleanliness that few have managed to achieve to date?
“Umuganda has played a huge role in cleaning the city of Kigali more thoroughly. This is one of the main benefits of Umuganda,” says sweeper Nyiramajyambere.
Can you imagine a day when people come together collectively to ensure the cleanliness of public spaces for the benefit of the common good? Well, in Rwanda this day exists: it is the Dia de Umuganda.
On the last Saturday of each month, the country stops for three hours. Stores close, police oversee road closures, and personal matters give way to community duty.
“We do Umuganda to clean our neighborhoods. Furthermore, eliminating bushes helps us combat mosquitoes that carry malaria. It also makes our homes look better,” says Anuarite Nyanzira, a businesswoman.
But Umuganda is more than cleaning: it is solidarity and community. The project brought residents together and they now discuss their problems and define common goals.
“I hope everyone knows the importance of trees. They provide oxygen. Without them, we won’t have air quality. Therefore, we need to protect them and plant even more. Is that clear?”, says Ildephonse Hategekimana, local leader of the Rwampara cell.
Kigali’s rise as the cleanest city in Africa is no coincidence. It is the result of a joint and continuous effort by communities. Government policies, such as the ban on plastic bags, provide the legal framework, while citizen engagement — embodied in the spirit of Umuganda — brings these policies to life.
