Eastleigh

Eastleigh residents protest as contractor blocks main road with sludge

Sludge on Eastleigh’s Third Avenue. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Instead of disposing of the sludge properly, the contractor is said to have dumped it on Third Avenue, making the road impassable for motorists for the last two weeks.

Residents of Eastleigh’s Third Avenue are protesting against a contractor who has blocked the main road with sludge.

The sludge was removed from nearby Eighth Street, which is currently under construction.

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Instead of disposing of the sludge properly, the contractor is said to have dumped it on Third Avenue, making the road impassable for motorists for the last two weeks.

The situation was worsened by the rains, which caused the sludge to spread across other parts of the road.

The sewage system in the area has also been damaged, causing sewage to flow onto the main road. A nearby school has also been affected, with its entrance blocked and pupils having to put up with a foul smell emanating from the gate.

William Musyoka, a shoe seller in the area for the last three years, said the sludge has significantly affected his business. He said his customers had a hard time accessing his shop.

"They must have a proper disposal system so that it does not affect us. This is a total mess now," Musyoka said.

James Mwangi, a resident of Eighth Street, expressed concerns about a potential outbreak of diseases if the issue is not resolved soon.

"There will be an outbreak of diseases here soon if nothing is done," Mwangi noted.

He accused the contractor of negligence, stating that the road had been destroyed in the process of constructing another one.

Hindiya Hassan, a mother taking her child to the nearby Abudujana Junior School, voiced fears about the health risks to the pupils. She lamented the proximity of the open sewage to the school.

"This is the gate of the school... Our children might get sick," Hindiya said.

The Eastleigh Voice spoke to David Owino, the lead engineer on the Eighth Street project, who acknowledged the dumping of sludge on Third Avenue.

Owino stated he had constructed several county roads in Eastleigh without affecting residents.

However, he promised to clear the sludge within four days. "In four days, I guarantee I will have cleared all this. But you can see I have constructed this Eighth Street, which was in a poor state."

Many roads in Eastleigh have been damaged by contractors working on new roads or sinking boreholes.

These contractors often allow mud and dirty water to flow freely on tarmacked roads, leading to the formation of potholes and the deterioration of the road conditions.