Traders in Kajiado Up in Arms Over Uncollected Garbage

Kajiado, Friday May 05, 2023

K.N.A By Rop Janet

Small-scale traders at the Kajiado open air market are up in arms over huge piles of uncollected garbage that has been piling up at the market for over three months.

 The traders complained that the garbage has affected their business as customers prefer to buy elsewhere due to the foul smell emanating from the garbage.

They accused the County Government of sleeping on the job despite collecting levies from them daily.

James Mwangi, a fruits vendor at the market, complained that the garbage apart from being an eye-sore was exposing them to diseases such as cholera, the situation being made worse by the heavy rains pounding the area.

“This garbage menace has become a nuisance; we have been complaining for a long time but the County government has done nothing. We are now at risk of water-borne diseases like cholera, “said Mwangi.

Another trader, Peter Ndegwa, echoed Mwangi’s sentiments adding that it was unfair for the County to collect revenue from traders and yet they do not clear garbage at the market.

Ndegwa said there were many jobless youths in the town and the county should engage them to be clearing the garbage as a way of creating employment.

 “The market has become an eye-sore and yet there are many jobless youths who can be employed to be clearing the garbage. We appeal to the county government to act fast and get rid of this eyesore,” said Ndegwa.

On her part, Agnes Mukiki, a greengrocer, said the garbage was attracting flies which hover around contaminating produce being sold at the market.

She called on the County Government to act fast and collect the garbage to curb an imminent outbreak of diseases.

However, County Executive Committee Member for Water, Environment and Natural Resources Leina Mpoke revealed that the garbage collection function was under the municipality and not the County and urged the municipality to act fast to address the garbage menace. 

Courtesy K.N.A