Eastleigh MCA blames county officials for destruction of newly built Captain Mungai Street
A borehole drilling company operating in one of the buildings along the street had released sludge and dirty water onto the road, making movement difficult for both motorists and pedestrians.
Eastleigh North Member of County Assembly Ahmedkadar Dabar has accused Nairobi County officials of allowing actions that have led to the destruction of Captain Mungai Street, a road that links Eastleigh to major shopping malls and the gold market.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Ahmedkadar said the road had been constructed recently and that it was difficult for him to watch county officials take part in its deterioration.
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A borehole drilling company operating in one of the buildings along the street had released sludge and dirty water onto the road, making movement difficult for both motorists and pedestrians.
The sludge has spread across the road and covered the entire surface, affecting access to businesses and slowing movement along the busy street. Traders and other road users have raised complaints, saying the situation has made the street impassable and affected their daily activities.
Ahmedkadar said he contacted the Kamukunji Sub-county administrator, the Sub-county environment officer, and the Sub-county inspectorate commander after receiving reports about the sludge.
He said none of the officials acted to stop the drilling company from releasing waste onto the newly completed road. He said some of the officers told him that the work was connected to the office of the governor and that senior staff from that office were supervising it.
“They said this work is being carried out by the office of the governor; it is his personal Assistant who is commanding the destruction of this today,” he said.
The MCA said, as an elected leader, he is being blamed by residents and road users who think he has allowed the road to be destroyed. He said people assume he is involved in the decision-making and that he is responsible for the damage, even though he has been trying to intervene.
According to him, borehole drilling takes place in many parts of Nairobi, but he has not seen roads destroyed at such a level through the dumping of sludge, especially roads that have been completed recently.
The sludge on Captain Mungai Street, a road that links Eastleigh to major shopping malls and the gold market. (Abdirahman Khalif)
Ahmedkadar also said the borehole drilling company does not have approvals from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the county government, and that it is operating illegally.
“I call upon the office of the President, the office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, office of the Deputy County Commissioner should look into these kinds of illegalities happening in Eastleigh,” he said.
He said the national government needs to act because Eastleigh will continue to suffer if no action is taken.
When contacted for a comment on the same, Sub-county environment officer Noah Ngeno said he had not been informed of the issue raised by the MCA.
Borehole drilling companies have a history of destroying roads in Eastleigh by dumping sludge and leaving it to damage the road surface.
Such companies have been reported many times, but have continued operating because they always find a way to avoid consequences.
New buildings in Eastleigh often require borehole drilling, and many drilling activities leave behind destruction that affects businesses, residents, and the general movement in the area.
The MCA said the continued dumping of sludge will cause long-term losses for the community and make it harder for the area to grow.
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