How Eastleigh residents stopped illegal garbage dumping on parts of General Wariungi Street

Residents of Eastleigh have successfully addressed a longstanding issue of illegal garbage dumping on the central reserves of one of the estate’s busiest streets.

The stretch of General Wariungi Street, running from Equity Bank to Thirteenth Street roundabout, had become a common site for indiscriminate waste disposal for years. However, recent collaborative efforts between residents and a private firm have led to the transformation of the area.

The new approach, spearheaded by the community with support from Zanox Energy, involved the installation of barbed wire between the guardrails that line the central reserves.

This effectively closed off the space that was frequently used as a dumping site. With no access left between the barriers, residents say the area can no longer be used to dispose of garbage.

Previously, the central reserve served not only as a dumping site but also as a gathering and sleeping spot for street families. These activities led to the destruction of flowers and other plants on the reserve, as people walked and slept on them day and night.

To discourage loitering and prevent people from sitting on the guardrails, tar has been applied along the entire stretch of the metal barriers. The combination of tar and barbed wire has successfully discouraged the presence of street families, and the area is no longer used for idling or as a makeshift shelter.

As part of the improvement efforts, new plants have been introduced on the central reserves, including maize. This has given the formerly polluted area a cleaner appearance, free of both garbage and the previous human activity that contributed to the degradation of the space.

Roble Muhumed, who works at a shop along the street, expressed satisfaction with the changes.

“It was disastrous. Whoever came up with this idea was brilliant. It is no longer possible to dump garbage here,” he said.

The cleanup has also been welcomed by local traders, including women who sell camel milk and snacks in the area. Ambia Hussein, one of the traders, said the garbage used to cause serious discomfort and affect their businesses.

“The smell from the garbage was unbearable,” she said.

Residents are now urging authorities and other stakeholders to replicate the same method on other streets across Eastleigh. They believe that sealing off the central reserves is an effective way to reduce illegal dumping and improve the overall cleanliness of the estate.

Some residents have also pointed out the safety concerns caused by street families who previously gathered in large numbers on the reserves.

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Ibrahim Abdi, a pedestrian who frequently uses the road, noted that such gatherings sometimes posed security threats.

“They come here in huge numbers, and during the night, some of them rob those they see as weak and walking alone,” he said.

Residents hope that the new measures will continue to be maintained and expanded to other parts of Eastleigh to address both environmental and security issues.