Thika residents want 'killer' dump site moved

Residents of Thika are up in arms over a dump site that they claim produces a poisonous gas that has left 15 infants dead.

Residents of both Kang’oki and a section of Kiganjo estates now want Kang’oki dump site moved, saying it had become a serious health hazard.

They said the smoke emanating from burning of waste had resulted in numerous children’s deaths and miscarriage among pregnant women.

“This year alone, we have lost close to 15 infants in the area, with doctors attributing the deaths to inhaling of a poisonous gas. Several women have also miscarried and the area has become inhabitable due to the many flies and the stench that has been emanating from the dump site,” said Mercy Waithera, a resident.

Area chief Simon Kimani said the situation on the ground was alarming, noting since January, he had given 15 burial permits for infants who had died after allegedly inhaling poisonous smoke from the site.

“It is high time the county government dealt with this matter once and for all in order to prevent loss of more lives. Infants and expectant mothers in the area are dying and miscarrying, which should not be the case,” said the chief.

Waithera said children and pregnant mothers were the most affected.

Chest Pains

Another resident, Richard Kimeu, said since people started burning waste there, residents were complaining of constant chest pains, headache and coughs.

“Our numerous pleas to the county government to stop the burning of the waste, some of which is toxic, have fallen on deaf ears. We now fear our health may be at risk,” he said.

Landlords in the area also complained the situation at the dump site had led to poor business after tenants shifted from the flats in droves.

James Kimani, a retired civil servant, said he had been left helpless after he used all his retirement benefits to purchase a plot and build some rentals in the area with the hope of living a comfortable post-retirement life.

“I am counting massive losses due to what has been happening at the dump site. Almost all the tenants have shifted from the rentals nearby. I do not know how I will survive since that was the only source of my livelihood,” said Kimani.

Environment Executive Esther Njuguna said people who were scavenging for scrap metal and plastics at the dump site were behind the burning of waste at the site.

She, however, denied that the smoke and stench from burning waste was behind the deaths and other illnesses alluded to by the locals.