The spokesperson for the City of Kigali, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, has warned building owners and managers who are hiding at night because no one is watching, releasing dirty water into drains and swamps, asking them to respect cleanliness and think about the impact their actions have on other residents and the environment.
In a message she posted on her X wall on the morning of Monday, August 10, 2026, in a message titled “MondayReflection,” Emma Claudine Ntirenganya returned to the issue of excessive odor and polluted air that is often reported by residents of different parts of Kigali.
She began with the example of a person who is in their home at night, their children are sleeping, but they smell a strong odor that wakes them up. She said: “A person may wake up and start wondering if there is a window they forgot to close or where the odor is coming from.”
He said that sometimes the smell could be caused by someone who has just released dirty water into the drain, and that sometimes the water contains waste from the toilet.
He pointed out that some people may do it at night because they think that no one is watching them, but he stressed that the fact that the act was done when no one is watching does not eliminate its consequences.
Untreated Wastewater Threatens Kigali’s Environment
A spokesperson for the City of Kigali said that the problem of smell and polluted air is one of the problems that residents in different parts of the City often bring to the attention of the authorities. He wondered about the attitude of the residents, saying: “How are we building a City if we respect cleanliness only when someone is watching us?”
He explained that dirty water, if not treated, when sent into drains can contaminate the environment and water, and even contribute to the spread of diseases caused by sewage. Another problem he highlighted is that this water can continue to flow and end up in the swamps of Kigali.
Ntirenganya said that efforts and investments have been made to restore and maintain the wetlands of Kigali, emphasizing their role in the health of the City.
He compared them to the “lungs of Kigali”, saying that they should not be turned into landfills. He said: “Our lungs should not be turned into engines.”
Building Owners Face Responsibility for Wastewate r
He reminded that every building owner has the responsibility to treat the wastewater that flows from them before it is discharged outside. He added that as a building is used by more people, the responsibilities related to managing wastewater increase.
A spokesperson for the City of Kigali said that discharging untreated wastewater into drains and wetlands is against regulations, and that those caught will be punished according to the law.
He added that those caught and re-offending will face harsher penalties. However, he said that compliance with these regulations should not be based solely on fear of punishment.
He stressed the need for a mindset that makes citizens understand that the rules governing cleanliness and environmental protection are in everyone’s best interest.
City Urges Citizens to Think Beyond Being Caught
In his message, Ntirenganya asked citizens to change the way they think about cleanliness. He gave the example of someone who might release dirty water at 8:00 PM, thinking that no one is looking.
He said that the consequences of such an act do not stay where it was done, but that the smell could enter someone else’s home, preventing them from sleeping, and such acts increase the risk of diseases caused by sewage.
In addition to the effects on people, dirty water can also contaminate wetlands that all citizens share. In this regard, he asked citizens not to just ask, “Who is going to catch me?”, but to ask themselves, “What are the consequences of what I am doing?”
Clean Kigali Requires Responsibility Day and Night
Emma Claudine concluded by emphasizing that having clean air and preserving wetlands are not just things that beautify the City, but are things that benefit all citizens.
She urged everyone to play their part in keeping the City of Kigali clean, whether during the day or at night, because the absence of a certain activity does not make its consequences disappear. She said: “Protecting our Kigali means doing the right thing; even at 8:00 pm, when we think no one is looking.”
The message from the Kigali City Spokesperson comes at a time when the issue of cleanliness, management of polluted water and the environment continues to be one of the priorities in the development of the City that seeks to have safe housing, cleanliness and a healthy environment.
In a message she posted on her X website on the morning of Monday, August 10, 2026, in a message titled “MondayReflection,” Emma Claudine Ntirenganya addressed the issue of excessive odor and polluted air that is often reported by residents of different parts of Kigali.
He began with the example of a person who is in their home at night, their children asleep, but they smell a strong odor that wakes them up. “A person might wake up and wonder if there is a window they forgot to close or where the odor is coming from,” he said.
He said that sometimes the odor could be caused by someone who has just flushed a toilet, and sometimes the water could contain toilet waste.
