City Affairs

Garbage woes persist in Eastleigh despite recent clearances

Some of the garbage along General Waruinge Street (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Friday, December 8, 2023

The ongoing garbage crisis in Eastleigh has taken a frustrating turn, with fresh heaps of refuse lining General Waruinge Street, causing chaos and disruptions to daily life.

The ongoing garbage crisis in Eastleigh has taken a frustrating turn, with fresh heaps of refuse lining General Waruinge Street, causing chaos and disruptions to daily life. The unsightly dump sites, located opposite the recently inaugurated BBS Mall and adjacent to Pumwani Maternity Hospital, have become a growing concern for residents and commuters alike.

The garbage along General Waruinge Street, which are blocking the drainages (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

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For the past few days, these mounds of garbage have not only created an eyesore but have also led to unnecessary traffic jams, as a portion of General Waruinge Street has become impassable due to the filth. The origin of the refuse remains unclear, but it appears to have been collected from elsewhere and unceremoniously dumped on the busy street.

Annoyed Motorists, pedestrians and boda boda riders

Expressing frustration, a disgruntled motorist Abdiraxman Hassan lamented, "It's unbelievable that we're still grappling with this garbage issue. Navigating General Waruinge Street has become a nightmare, and the traffic jams are just unbearable. Something needs to be done urgently to clear up this mess."

A Matatu driver Evans Wafula, visibly irritated by the situation, commented, "This garbage is affecting our schedules and making our operations difficult. Passengers are not happy about the conditions, and it reflects poorly on our services. It's high time the authorities address this problem comprehensively."

Garbage along General Waruinge Street occupying half of the street tus causing traffic jam (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

A pedestrian Oluoch Ouma, expressing concern for the health and well-being of residents, stated, "Walking along General Waruinge Street has become a health hazard. The foul smell is nauseating, and the traffic caused by the garbage is disrupting our daily lives. We can't allow our neighborhood to turn into a dumping ground."

Robert Mwesigwa a boda boda rider, highlighting the impact on businesses, said, "Customers are hesitant to use our services because of the filthy environment. It's not just about the inconvenience; it's affecting our livelihoods. We need the relevant authorities to step in and clean up the mess."

Recent garbage collection

In a somewhat positive development, earlier this week, there were successful clearances of garbage on Jam Street. While this brought temporary relief to residents, the persistence of the garbage issue on General Waruinge Street underscores the need for a more comprehensive and lasting solution to waste management in Eastleigh. The residents are hopeful that City Hall and the area MCA will take swift action to address this growing concern and restore cleanliness to their neighborhood.