Kawangware Residents Left Stranded as Raw Sewage Floods Homes

For four consecutive days, residents of Kamitha area in Kawangware, Dagoretti North Constituency, have been battling the aftermath of raw sewage flooding their homes following ongoing short rains

More than 50 families have been left stranded, their homes and belongings submerged in murky, foul-smelling water, as the situation worsens with every downpour

According to locals, the flooding began after a landowner allegedly blocked the main drainage channel and turned his property into a dumping site for truckloads of soil waste from nearby construction projects

“We have raised complaints and even petitioned NEMA and the Nairobi County Government several times to stop the dumping, but nothing has been done,” said Mr. John Njenga, one of the affected residents

The blocked drainage, compounded by overflowing sewer lines, has created a serious public health hazard. With no immediate government intervention, residents have resorted to unclogging the drains themselves  a risky and unsanitary effort

“Last week, a volunteer had to dive into a manhole filled with raw waste just to unclog it,” Njenga added

Ms. Jane Wanjiru, another resident, expressed fears over the safety of children in the area, noting that many are exposed to contaminated water and risk contracting diseases such as cholera and typhoid

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“We fear our children could fall sick because of the dirty water,” she said

Residents are now appealing to Gatina Ward MCA Hon. Swaka and Dagoretti North MP Hon. Beatrice Elachi to visit the area and help find a lasting solution

Despite being adjacent to the affluent Lavington Estate, Kamitha remains neglected in basic infrastructure like sewer systems and drainage  a stark reminder of the growing inequality in Nairobi’s service delivery

Writer : Mweru Mbugua