Kiambu locals scramble for hazardous asbestos waste

Kiambu County Water and Environment Executive Esther Njuguna shows the asbestos waste that was dumped in the open near residential estates in Thika. She said the guidelines for disposing asbestos waste were not followed. The material has been classified as a hazardous by World Health Organisation. [PHOTO: KAMAU MAICHUHIE/STANDARD]

KENYA: Residents of Kang'oki in Thika scrambled for 20 trucks of illegally dumped hazardous asbestos roofing sheets.

But their party was short-lived after they learned that the materials brought in by 20 trucks were classified as hazardous by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and banned from use.

Asbestos roofing has been named as one of the leading causes of lung and stomach cancer in the world.

According to eyewitnesses, the trucks made their way to the dump site last Sunday in a convoy and emptied the material.

Residents who spoke to The Standard said many of them had already collected the iron sheets, which they have been using to roof houses and fence their homes.

They said they were not aware that the material was dangerous and has been banned, or that it was a leading cause of cancer.

"We were not aware of the hazardous effects of the material. We are shocked to learn that it could cause cancer. Our children have also been playing with it," said Eunice Njoki, a resident.

"The trucks were escorted by branded National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) vehicles, and a lady who identified herself as an employee of the agency told us they had authorised the material to be dumped there since it was a public dump site," said Josephat Kimani, a resident.

Environment and National Resources County Executive Esther Njuguna, who toured the area, said asbestos products were a health hazard and called on the locals to stay away from the site.

Ms Njuguna said Nema had put in place guidelines on how asbestos materials should be disposed of.

"Asbestos materials are supposed to be disposed in a licensed dump site in a special and stipulated way since it is highly hazardous," she said.

NEMA CONNECTION

She regretted that the dumping was done under the supervision of an official from Nema, a body mandated to safe-guard the environment.

Director of Environment Andrew Kimani said the county was pursuing those behind the dumping.

Mr Kimani said they were following crucial leads that will help them bring the culprits to book.

He called on the locals to return the sheets so that they can be disposed of in a proper way.

"We call on the locals not to come into contact with the material since it may have adverse effects on their health," said Kimani.

Kiambu Nema County Director Njoki Mukiri said they were investigating the matter, adding that appropriate action will be taken against those found culpable.

She said preliminary investigations indicated the material was dumped by a contractor who had been assigned by the County Government of Nairobi to change the roofing of Githurai market.

"I am as aggrieved as the county government. It was wrong for the contractor to dump the hazardous material in a public place," she said.

Nairobi County Nema Director Titus Simiyu exonerated the authority from blame, saying Nairobi County should be held responsible.

"We are pursuing the contractor. He ought to have ensured that it was properly disposed. We have ordered them to collect the material and take it to the licensed dump site in Gatuanyaga, which is just a few kilometres away," said Mr Simiyu.