Residents of Kiserian town and its environs have urged the government to move with speed and revive the construction of the stalled Kiserian Sewerage and treatment plant.
The residents complained that lack of a sewerage treatment plant in the area was exposing them to water-borne diseases such as cholera as property owners often divert raw sewage onto the roads.
A resident Alice Wanjeri said improper disposal of sewage particularly poses a health risk to children who play with the flowing discharge oblivious of the danger they are exposing themselves to.
Wanjeri revealed that landlords often discharge raw sewage onto the roads especially when it rains to avoid incurring disposal costs.
“We are exposed to water-borne diseases as there is no sewage treatment plant in this whole town. Landlords keep disposing raw sewage onto the roads mostly when it rains putting our health at great risk” she emphasized.
Nathaniel Kinyanjui, echoed Wanjeri’s sentiments adding that many septic tanks in residential apartments in the area overflow especially when it rains contaminating water supply pipes.
Kinyanjui emphasized that the completion of the Kiserian sewerage treatment plant would permanently solve the raw sewage disposal menace. He called on the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to take stringent action against property owners polluting the environment to deter others.
Contacted, Kajiado County NEMA Director Joseph Kopejo said improper sewage disposal was a major concern in most parts of the county.
He warned private developers against releasing raw sewage onto roads warning doing so contravened the Environmental Management and Coordination (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006.
Kopejo said NEMA had embarked on a crackdown on residential buildings releasing sewage onto the roads and more than 50 property owners had been put on notice with 20 buildings ordered closed down.
“We have begun a crackdown on high-rise flats and residential areas to ensure that landlords comply with effluent discharge regulations. We have marked over 50 houses here in Kitengela, Ongata Rongai, Kiserian and Ngong and given the landlords one week to ensure that they comply or risk all of their houses being evacuated,” said Kopejo.
The director vowed to crack the whip and ensure all those found guilty of polluting the environment, are dealt with in accordance with the law.
The construction of the Kiserian Sewerage and treatment plant at a cost Sh. 906 Million began in 2014 but has since stalled after the contract was terminated in 2019 for non-performance.
Athi Water Services Project Engineer Julius Serei, said the project had stalled at 20 percent completion and the contractor had since moved to court to challenge the termination thus delaying the resumption of the works.
By Rop Janet
