By Alex Maina
In Langas, Huruma, Kamukunji, Kimumu, Kidiwa, and Maili Nne, areas full of hardworking families, waste disposal has become a serious and painful problem. Every day, garbage piles grow in corners of the streets, next to homes, in open fields, and even near schools. Some of it is left to rot, some is burned, and some is eaten by animals. The air smells bad, and the danger to health is growing by the day.
In these areas, most people rely on private garbage collectors. These collectors charge between Kenya Shillings 200 to Kenya Shillings 400 every month. But this is not money everyone can easily afford. Many families are already struggling with rent, food, school fees, and transport. So, when they cannot afford garbage collection, they are forced to dump the waste in nearby areas or burn it, making the situation worse.
“We are not careless,” says Mercy, a mother of four from Kidiwa. “We simply can’t keep paying 300 shillings every month. Sometimes we have to choose between food and waste collection.”
The result? Dirty environments, blocked drainage, smoke from burning plastic, and children playing near dangerous trash heaps.
In places like Kamukunji and Huruma, garbage surrounds market stalls. In Kidiwa and Langas, the smell of waste mixes with the air people breathe daily. It is not just about dirt, it’s about dignity, health, and safety.
“We’ve been forgotten,” says John, a resident of Huruma. “We need the County Government to come here, not just clean the CBD and leave us suffering.”
Residents are pleading for support. They want the County to invest in waste collection systems that reach their neighborhoods, regular garbage trucks, public bins, community awareness programs, and a way for those who can’t pay privately to still have access to clean surroundings.
“Yes, we know cleanliness starts with us,” adds Mama Chebet from Langas, “but give us the support. We want a better environment, not just for us, but for our children.”
The people in these areas are not asking for luxury; they are just asking for support to make things better. A clean environment is not just for the rich or for town centers. It is a basic right for all.
It’s time the County Government listened. Because health cannot wait, and trash does not disappear on its own.
