Traders in Mairo-Inya township of Nyandarua County have protested the lack of garbage disposal services and lack of public sanitation facilities accusing the county administration of negligence.
The business fraternity complained that despite paying revenue, the county administration had failed them as they lacked access to a public toilet, proper drainage systems among other vital services.
The densely populated town is characterized by stench with visible piles of rotten garbage placed on the roadside and blocked drainage trenches that emit a foul smell.
“We are living at a great risk of contracting various diseases as the environment we are working in is unfriendly. The county administration has failed us, we cannot see the fruits of the money we pay for revenue,” lamented Mwangi Gathua one of the residents.
The residents accused the County government of ignoring their plight for a clean environment with garbage in form of plastic bags, bottles, used diapers and sanitary towels posing a huge threat to them.
“We are always depressed when nature comes calling as we lack a public toilet within the township. We are forced to go to people’s plots and homesteads to relieve ourselves,” added Ms Mary Njeri.
Lawrence Ndung’u noted that 20 houses in one of his plots within the town had been vacated as storm-water drained into the plot for lack of proper drainage systems.
The traders have therefore called on the county administration to embark on a vigorous and urgent campaign to address the menace as a matter of urgency to provide a better working environment.
Reacting to the residents’ cry, area Member of County Assembly (MCA), Justus Gaita faulted land grabbing for lack of vital public utility noting that areas set aside for the facilities had been grabbed by private developers.
“Our efforts to purchase land to build the facility has been futile as the members of the public have escalated the price of plots on realizing the county interest to purchase it,” said the MCA.
Gaita however, noted plans were underway to look for a better site to construct a public toilet and also set aside land for garbage disposal.
By Jesse Mwitwa
