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By Morton Saulo
It is early morning and the first sunrays strike the garbage mountain at the Dandora dumpsite, illuminating a plethora of assorted heaps of wastes.
The putrid smell and stuffy atmosphere at the scene make it repulsive to approach but hordes of mainly young people compete with marabou storks for freshly dumped waste. Some of the youth not only work but also live there.
From a distance a garbage truck dances on the pot-holed road as it makes its way to the site while struggling with a heavy load.
Scavengers at Dandora dumpsite. [PHOTO: courtesy]
Young men chase the lorry as they chants: "Chombo, chombo, chombo" (Chombo here means this particular truck, from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, is laden with food waste).Emmah Wanjiku who works at the site says: "That’s food from the aeroplanes and it is the best, it is daily Christmas when it comes."
True to expectation, the truck off-loads waste, neatly wrapped and some clearly marked NAS (Nairobi Airport Services).
Scramble for the fittest
It is scramble for the fittest as the youths grab, tear and munch at sandwiches, canned juices and other succulent leftovers from air travellers.
Welcome to Dandora dumpsite popularly known as ‘Mukuru’ by the locals. The site is managed by the City Council and is complete with a dumpsite manager. It is the epicentre of Nairobi’s garbage dumping.
Research by the Council and other groups estimate that more than three million tonnes of garbage lie in its bowels. About 600 tonnes of garbage is dumped there daily while more than 200 people scour fresh mounds to sort out valuable stuff to sell to various dealers.
Plastic wares, metals scraps, hard cartons, bottles, clothing and household utensils are the most sought items here. It is a source of livelihood, either directly or indirectly, for thousands of residents.
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