Residents join hands to fight garbage menace in Nairobi estates

In areas such as Dandora, Pipeline, Jogoo Road, Eastleigh, Pangani, piles of uncollected waste have become a common scene, putting the health of millions at risk.

"There is often no one to collect the garbage thrown out there. The smell becomes unbearable whenever it rains. It even gets worse during windy season, making houses almost uninhabitable," said Vincent Ngige, a resident of Umoja.

The runaway garbage situation is affecting many estates, with parents worried that their children could catch diseases.

Some of the residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting wondered why nearly every available space in the estates had been turned into garbage points.

According to the residents, sections of public playgrounds have been turned into dumping sites, leaving children with nowhere to play.

"Nairobi county has a role to play in mitigating the situation, but residents must also stop dumping waste in undesignated places," said Alphonse Juma, a resident of  Nyamavilla estate.

Juma said they are trying to educate residents on the health value of having a clean environment, even mobilising people to collect garbage near their houses every so often.

Others are putting up notices, warning people against dumping. A few people are volunteering to provide bins for use, even though some have been stolen.

"The response has been very good. Many young men and women are slowly taking up the role of clean environment ambassadors in the estates," said Juma.

"The residents are already aware that poor waste disposal and management can cause pollution and disease outbreak in our estates. This is why they have agreed to come together to help deal with the situation," noted Ngige.

Residents are optimistic that a door-door campaign will help improve the state of hygiene in the country.