Villagers accuse quarry company of putting their health in danger

In the heart of Sirima Village in Awasi, Nyando sub-county, lives a frustrated community.

A 50-year-old ballast quarry owned by Gogni Rajope Construction Company has become a source of conflict in the area.

Residents claim the company has put their lives at risk by failing to meet  environmental management standards and not co-operating with the community in its operations.

They threatened to sue the company for what they termed as impunity. The residents fear they could get respiratory disease or other complicated health conditions because dust mixed with chemicals easily find their way into  water sources.

"We cannot even air our clothes after washing because by the time they dry they are dirty again from the dust. We have to go to relatives in other places to do our laundry before coming back," said Anne Akuno.

Joseph Awiti, a village elder, said residents have had to contend with the massive dust and unprecedented earth tremors brought about by explosions during blasting and grinding of the stones.

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persistent coughs

"We have already been warned by health experts that this dust is dangerous for our health, but we have nothing to do given that we have nowhere to relocate to. We have visited various government agencies with complaints but nothing seems to be bearing fruit. And many people in this village have persistent coughs which we believe is due to the dust," Mr Awiti said.

He said the company has never bothered to construct water points to provide safe water for domestic usageas part of their corporate social responsibility.

"Evacuation notice during blasting is too short and no water is sprinkled to reduce dust during crushing of stone yet we cannot be given an ear so that we co-exist," he said.

Richard Omondi who lives less than 50m from the blasting point is a disillusioned man. In August this year, a stone from the blasting site hit his iron sheet roof, tearing it apart.

His efforts to seek attention from the company with the help of the area assistant chief hit a snag after the management denied responsibility. Funny enough, in a report compiled by National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), it is indicated that the company had compensated Omondi for the damage.

"I am perplexed. I have just seen it in this report that I was compensated even after the management of the company failed to listen to us. May be they compensated the wrong person," Mr Omondi said.

Unfortunately, a second quarry is in the offing in the same area, a situation which has angered the community more.

In a petition to Nema and copied to the area county commissioner and other stakeholders, the residents claimed that their efforts to seek intervention from the Nyando District Commissioner, bore no fruits.

"The pollution is getting worse and there are indications that another quarry is coming up in the village. Much as we respect private property, as residents of Sirima village we are aware that we are entitled to our basic rights," the petition dated August 3 partly reads.

environmental audit

The complaint was followed by Nema, whose report in September indicated that there was evidence of dust pollution during ballast crushing, 'though minimal'.

The report indicated that the company didn't have an environmental audit report, excessive vibration permit and schedule for ballasting, which were necessary in its operations.

Residents are very concerned since no action has been taken. They said that nothing was done even after the Nema report indicated that there were lapses. The company management has however read malice in the complaints, saying; "Some people think by raising such issues they would make some money."

The company's Regional Finance Officer Wilber Omondi said the company was not aware of the said Nema inspection and that they have always operated within the law.

"We are aware of the complaints but we can only do the much we are expected of. Had we been operating out of the law, Nema would have closed down the quarry.

"Those who feel aggrieved can go to the relevant authorities like the police," said Omondi while responding to claims that blasting activities have caused damage to houses in the area.