By Joel Clinton
Otonglo Market, found in Kisumu West Constituency, is a key trading spot for residents from Otonglo, Korando A, Korando B, Akingli, Kotetni, Rota, and Nawa villages. Every day, hundreds of traders come to sell fresh produce, fish, cereals, and household goods. Yet behind this bustling activity is a growing crisis: waste mismanagement that has turned the market into a health hazard.
Even with a waste recycling facility nearby, little has been done to tackle the increasing piles of garbage around the market. The facility operates at a minimal level, processing only a small part of the waste produced each day. Consequently, heaps of rotten vegetables, plastic bottles, and discarded food containers clutter the walkways, drawing flies and rodents.
County garbage collectors, responsible for cleaning the waste, often take longer than expected to respond. Vendors report that it can take over two weeks for the garbage to be collected. During this time, the smell becomes unbearable, especially for traders with shops near the dumping spots.
“When it rains, the situation gets worse,” says Dentosh, who owns a small chemist near the market. “The water mixes with the waste, creating pools of filth. The smell is terrible, and we fear it could lead to diseases like cholera and typhoid. We’ve complained countless times, but nothing has changed.”
The county government insists that garbage collection follows a strict schedule. Officials state that waste is collected in order, and Otonglo must wait its turn. However, this bureaucratic reasoning has left many residents feeling frustrated.
Mama Nancy, a vegetable vendor who has worked at the market for over ten years, says the traders have lost hope. “We pay market fees every week, yet we live and sell in dirt. The county officers promise to fix things during election periods, but once they win, they vanish.”
As Kisumu aims to become a rapidly growing city, the situation at Otonglo Market highlights a troubling example of urban neglect. The waste issue not only endangers livelihoods but also public health. Unless the county government takes immediate action, Otonglo may soon symbolize how poor waste management can hinder progress, one garbage pile at a time.
