Eastleigh street turns into garbage dump, frustrating road users, businesses
Residents and businesses are calling for immediate action to clear the garbage and enforce stricter waste management regulations to prevent further dumping in the area.
Eastleigh's Twelfth Street, between First and Second Avenue, has become an informal garbage dumping site, disrupting businesses and road users.
Piles of garbage have accumulated for weeks near the Decale Palace Hotel, between Kilimanjaro Food Court and the Garissa Coach booking station on General Wariungi Street. Initially confined to the central reserve, the waste has spilt onto the road, blocking sections and causing traffic congestion.
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Drivers using the road have expressed frustration. Felix Mwendwa, who drives on the Kariobangi-Gikomba route, said broken glass in the garbage poses a risk to vehicles.
"I have to squeeze on the other side of the road to avoid the glass. It needs to be cleared," he said.
Residents and road users claim that street families are responsible for the waste. According to them, the families transport garbage in sacks from other areas and dump it at night. The site has also become a nighttime shelter for some street families, who eat and sleep there. On Monday afternoon, several individuals were seen around the garbage, with some sleeping on-site.
The area is also a hub for hawkers. On one side of the road, vendors sell dates and snacks, while camel milk is sold on the opposite side.
Maryan Olow, a 53-year-old camel milk vendor, said the street families have worsened the situation, making the area dirty and challenging for business. She added that the smell becomes unbearable, especially during rainy weather
"When it rains, the garbage gets wet, and the smell becomes worse. It's hard to work like this," she said.
Piles of garabge have been lying on the central reserves right opposite Decale Palace Hotel, 12th Street in Eastleigh. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
She noted that the garbage piles grow daily, as others see the site as a dumping ground and add their waste.
Efforts to address the issue have been hindered by non-compliance from property owners. Some buildings in the area have not adhered to an agreement requiring them to monitor their surroundings and prevent nighttime dumping.
A senior official involved in garbage management, who requested anonymity, criticised the lack of adherence to these directives by owners of buildings in this area.
Last month, Kamukunji Subcounty Environment Officer Noah Ngeno said street families contribute significantly to the garbage problem in Eastleigh. Despite repeated cleanup efforts, the waste continues to accumulate.
Residents and businesses are calling for immediate action to clear the garbage and enforce stricter waste management regulations to prevent further dumping in the area.
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