Residents of Machakos Central Ward have raised concerns over poor waste management and the lack of garbage collection, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD), Kathemboni, and areas of CP Market. Mary, a local vegetable vendor, voiced her frustrations to Wananchi Reporting, highlighting the overflow of waste near her stall.
“I sell vegetables and the rodents from the garbage site find their way to my stall and this chases away customers,” she said on Thursday.
“The situation was even worse during the rains, because the authorities did not pick the garbage at all.”
She went on to lament that she and her young daughter had developed complications.
“We cough a lot and we suspect it has been brought by the poor garbage disposal and burning of rubbish at the wrong place,” she said.
Mary alleged that officials responsible for clearing the waste demand bribes to do their work.
She said some people dump garbage anywhere they see idle land and the owner of one plot has been left stranded, looking for ways to sort the menace.
Another resident said, “The authorities go for long periods without collecting garbage and it ends up being scattered everywhere, causing pollution.”
“This is a health hazard and we urge the county government to act fast before an outbreak of diseases happens.”
