Mandera residents have accused the county government of poor waste management.
Mohamed Adow, a resident of Border Point One said the business community, hospitals and other institutions were dumping rubbish in the area.
Mr. Adow lamented that the rubbish has become a health hazard to residents due to the stench from the site.
He said livestock has died after feeding on garbage and others contracted diseases.
Children also risk their lives as they play with the rubbish which at times flies into their houses.
“Even condoms are part of the rubbish, our children blow them up thinking they are balloons; in these parts of the world our people have not been exposed to condoms,” said Mr. Adow.
He added that those who dump waste, have dug several pits and cautioned that the area being adjacent to terror prone Somalia, the Al Shabaab can use the holes as a hiding place during the night.
Residents asked the County government to follow up and prevent further dumping and collect the waste.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) County Director of Environment Fatuma Maalim said her organization is aware of the waste menace.
Ms. Maalim said waste management function has been devolved but advised residents to dump waste at qarbakole dumping site which is a designated area.
She promised to follow up the matter and prevent further environmental degradation.
By Dickson Githaiga
