Sewage crisis deepens forcing Eastleigh traders to wear gumboots at work
They now work in stagnant wastewater, which has created an unsafe and unhygienic environment.
Business owners operating along Yusuf Haji Avenue in Eastleigh are grappling with raw sewage flowing into the road from Athumani Kipanga Street, commonly known as Jam Street. The situation has forced many of them to wear gumboots as they do their daily work.
The junction where Jam Street meets Yusuf Haji Avenue is the most affected area. Hawkers and small-scale traders say the situation has worsened in recent weeks.
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They now work in stagnant wastewater, which has created an unsafe and unhygienic environment.
The Nairobi County Government had installed a new sewage system aimed at solving the persistent problem of overflowing sewage in the area. However, business people say the problem remains unsolved.
The raw sewage continues to flow from Jam Street and has now reached Yusuf Haji Avenue.
Despite an upgrade to the sewer system by the Nairobi County Government in February, the issue of sewage overflow has persisted. on Jam Street. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
According to traders and road users, the sewage poses a serious health risk and could lead to disease outbreaks. They say the situation, which had previously affected only Athumani Kipanga Street, has now spread to a larger area, causing concern among residents and business operators.
“Look at us, we must wear gumboots coming here every single day, whether it rains or not, because our working area is filled with dirty water from Jam Street,” said Francis Maitha, a hawker who sells children's clothes at the junction.
Street vendors under the Bankog Shopping Mall are also facing similar challenges, especially those who work during the evening. Amina Ali, a mother of two who sells perfumes and cosmetic products, said the conditions are affecting her business.
Traders along Jam Street have raised alarm over the deteriorating state of the busy road. The road has turned into a dumpsite, with raw sewage frequently flowing across it. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
“The smell is too much. It’s hard to operate from here because no customer wants to stand in such a smelly place,” said Amina.
The Eastleigh Voice contacted the area Member of County Assembly, Ahmedkadar Dabar, to inquire about the state of the road and the stalled repairs. He said the contractor had planned to begin repair works last week, but the recent heavy rains delayed the process.
“Any moment from now, the contractor will be on site. The cabros that were removed will be reinstalled,” said Ahmedkadar.
In the meantime, Jam Street has become a dumping ground, with plastic waste and raw sewage flowing freely across the road. The traders say the area continues to deteriorate and have called for urgent intervention by the County Government.
They expressed hope that once the repair works begin, the ongoing sewage problem will finally be addressed. For now, many continue to work in unsafe conditions with little choice but to adapt.
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