Garbage piles up at Eastleigh roundabout, affecting businesses and residents

Eastleigh's Twelfth Street roundabout on Second Avenue is turning into an informal garbage disposal area.

For weeks, piles of garbage have accumulated at the site, causing an unpleasant smell and creating an unattractive scene.

This roundabout, located directly opposite Equity Bank in Eastleigh, has seen waste grow daily, with no immediate solution in sight.

Residents speaking to Eastleigh Voice reported that street families are responsible for bringing the garbage to the roundabout.

According to locals, these families transport waste in sacks from other areas and dump it here during the night. The roundabout has also become a nighttime residence for many of these individuals, who sleep and eat on the spot every evening.

In addition to dumping garbage, members of the street families have been accused of vandalising the signposts at the roundabout. These posts are reportedly stolen during the night and sold as scrap metal, further contributing to the degradation of the area.

Piles of garbage are seen at Second Avenue roundabout in Eastleigh, Nairobi. (Abdirahman Khalif)

Local workers and business owners around the roundabout have voiced their concerns.

Abdullahi Hussein, a taxi driver who frequently parks near the roundabout, described the negative impact the situation has on the community. He noted that the smell of the garbage is particularly unbearable during the early morning hours, especially after rain.

"The rains make the garbage wet, and the awful smell from it is too much to bear," said Abdullahi. "It keeps growing every day. People also see the piles and think this is a dumping site, so they add their garbage here too."

The foul smell is also driving away customers from local businesses. Qureisha Samow, a tea vendor who operates in the area during the evenings, reported that the garbage has caused her to lose customers.

"Because of this garbage, I've lost some of my customers. The smell is too terrible, and I have nowhere else to go," Qureisha said. Her business, like many others around the roundabout, is affected by the worsening conditions.

This roundabout is located near the Shah Ma'aan area, home to many restaurants and shops that serve thousands of people each day. Youth frequently gather here in the evenings to drink camel tea and discuss various issues, but the growing garbage problem is making the area less appealing.

The situation has caught the attention of local authorities. Noah Ngeno, the Kamukunji Subcounty Environment Officer, acknowledged that street families are responsible for much of the waste.

He expressed frustration over repeated cleanup efforts that have failed to keep the area clean, pointing to the continued presence of street families as a major factor in the problem.

"We always clean this roundabout, but nothing changes," said Noah. "We need to deal with the street families because they are responsible," he said.

Noah also mentioned that enforcement officers from the county government will soon intervene to address the issue, and plans are in place to clear the garbage. However, the growing concern is whether these efforts will result in a lasting solution or if the cycle of dumping and vandalism will continue