Clear filth or face mass action, Kisumu residents tell officials

Kisumu residents on Monday gave the county government a one-week ultimatum to clean up the filth in the city.

Kisumu City Residents Voice chairman Audi Ogada said the town and the local markets are full of garbage and that poses a health risk to the people.

Mr Ogada urged Kisumu City Manager Lydia Muthoni to act within a week to ensure the town is cleaned up or face a “mass public protest.”

“We are giving notice to the environment department, public health, planning and the directorate of enforcement to ensure stinking dumpsites in the markets are cleared or they face public wrath,” Mr Ogada said.

He added, “Kibuye, which is the largest open-air market in East Africa, is now very filthy and [there is] an unofficial dumpsite now emerging near the railways station. We want to see restoration of the town’s cleanliness.”

Mr Ogada said the uncollected garbage is ruining Kisumu's status as the third-largest town in the country.

He said the county government must equip the enforcement department with enough vehicles to monitor sanitation in the town.

County executive member for environment Barrack Abonyo said the county is facing challenges in trying to keep the town clean because of inadequate staff.

“We have been using casual labours but since Ifmis developed a problem, we have not been able to pay our staff and to have the three lorries operational,” said Prof Abonyo.

Prof Abonyo said he was optimistic garbage collection would resume this week.