Residents of Mukuru kwa Njenga and Mukuru kwa Reuben in Nairobi’s Embakasi South Constituency have been living in deplorable conditions for a long time, and wonder why the government is so focused on building affordable houses when it can’t attend to simple things like fixing roads and drainage.
The recent onset of heavy rains has seen widespread flooding and bursting of sewage drainage systems, with area residents and business people fearing an outbreak of diseases such as cholera, since the contaminated water flows near their homes and marketplaces.
Speaking to our reporters, some residents said they fear that the food sold on the side of the road could cause harm to their bodies because the contaminated water is everywhere.
“In fact, we may get diseases because the food is sold openly, and the flies come from the stagnant water to the food. It is dangerous for us,” said Ruth, a long-time resident of Mukuru kwa Njenga.
And for their part, traders have said that most of the customers are afraid to buy food for fear of diseases because, in addition to the contaminated pools of water, dirt and garbage have also piled up, providing a home for rodents and other disease-carrying pests.
School children have also been adversely affected because they have to cross, or wade through, dirty pools of water on their way to school, and some schools were even closed when they got flooded. With the meteorological department forecasting more heavy rains this month, we can expect more disruptions to the education of children in the area.
One of the roads that is in urgent need of repair is the one leading to Our Lady of Nazareth Mukuru kwa Njenga Hospital, from Vietnam junction to the hospital gate. The hospital has a labour ward but expectant mothers have a difficult time accessing it using boda bodas because of the numerous potholes. When it rains, the pools of water make the road virtually impassable. Ambulances have to sometimes seek entry into the hospital through a rear entrance that can only be accessed through a neighbouring school, but access is not always granted.
The residents are calling on the area MCA, MP, and Governor Sakaja to do the work they were elected to do by urgently fixing the roads and drainage in the area.