They collect the money as fee for allowing garbage to be disposed at the site, failure to pay they become violent and turn the operators away with their garbage.
The garbage site is said to be an industry that generates millions and senior businessmen and politicians are said to be greatly involved in the maintenance of the status quo whereas taking diverse stands over the relocation of the garbage site at Dandora.
The gangs at the dumpsite are very dangerous and they are believed to be from the Mungiki squad. Although, one member of the gang denied the allegations of them being Mungiki and said they are just street children who have spent their entire childhood there.
The fights witnessed 2 weeks ago have been as an outcome of some gangs fighting for full control of the garbage site.
Just a few weeks ago, some gang members surrendered five guns to the police following a deal that the Nairobi County Senator, Mike Sonko had promised give out a certain amount of cash for every gun surrendered.
They confessed to have been using the guns to guard “their sections” of the dumpsite. This comes barely days after rival gangs clashed, killing one member and several being injured.
The dumpsite has all types of wastes. According to a report released by UNEP materials such as expired products, chemicals and hospital wastes are dumped at the site.
There were plans to relocate the dumpsite to Ruai but it has not yet been effected as of now. Furthermore an Italian firm that was interested in the business of garbage collection failed to seal a deal with the government after councilors and cabinet ministers opposed the move.
For the past years, the work for collecting garbage was the work of the NCC, collecting a 90% of the total garbage generated within the capital City. The Nairobi city occupants had to part with a fee for waste collection. Though, with time several amendments were put in place and the charge was dropped. The NCC remained still providing for these services by being funded from other sources.
The dumpsite is a health hazard for those living around the dumpsite and also children who go to schools located near the site. A medical analysis done revealed that there is a greater risk of diseases connected with high exposure to the metal pollutants at the dumpsite.
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