The City of Kigali has introduced a vehicle that employs modern technologies to sweep and clean dirty roads. ALSO READ: Kigali ranked Africa's second most attractive city According to Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, the city's spokesperson, the vehicle’s functions include sweeping tarmacked roads in dirty areas using built-in brushes. “It also has a method of cleaning roads without raising dust, by using a vacuum or suction system to remove dirt, debris, and loose materials from the road surface. The vehicle is equipped with a tank specifically designed to collect and store the waste it gathers, which is then transported to a designated disposal site,” she explained. ALSO READ: Kigali tops Africa smart city rankings The waste is discharged automatically. “It is also fitted with high-pressure hoses that can be used to wash a vehicle — such as cleaning the tyres when necessary, or washing the entire vehicle when it has come from a dirty area before entering paved roads,” she added. She assured that existing road-cleaning staff, especially women usually seen on the roads will retain their roles and will work alongside the vehicle to support its operations. ALSO READ: Acknowledging the women behind the clean streets of Kigali through photography “The workers will remain in their roles because the vehicle does not enter drainage channels or clean other edges of the road. It also does not clean around roadside flowerbeds. The vehicle operates from midnight, once traffic has reduced.” Kigali is widely recognised as one of the cleanest cities in Africa. In 2023, Kigali was named Africa’s premier smart city out of the 30 cities assessed in the African Smart City Index 2023. ALSO READ: Rwanda ranks Africa’s 2nd popular destination for conferences In July 2024, the City of Kigali ranked third on the list of travellers’ favourite African cities. In November 2024, Kigali was ranked the second most liveable and investable city in Africa by The Africa Report, a pan-African media platform, and Jeune Afrique, a French-language pan-African weekly magazine. Kigali was praised for its cleanliness, safety, and innovation. “From urban planning to quality of life and business appeal, Kigali continues to set the bar high,” said Ntirenganya, adding that it is the city's impeccable cleanliness, unmatched safety, and forward-thinking innovation that put it on the global map. In May 2025, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Kigali as the second most popular city in Africa for hosting international meetings and events, while Rwanda ranked third among African countries. The Rwandan capital has retained this position for the fifth consecutive year. In 2024 alone, Rwanda welcomed over 52,000 delegates attending conferences and events, generating over $84.8 million in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) revenues, according to the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB).
