A section of traders at Muthurwa market in Nairobi are now calling on the county government to address the garbage menace which has been persistent for almost a decade now.

For several weeks now, mountains of garbage have been piling up despite pleas by the traders to the county government, the site has now attracted some scavengers including pigs and dogs.

On one end, cows and street boys are foraging for food on smelly sludge while traders sell their wares including fruits and vegetables metres away.

The thick sludge from the garbage flows all the way to the open stalls where traders display their wares but they seem unbothered.

“We have totally been neglected. At Muthurwa no one collects garbage. Sakaja in his usual style he has been ignoring us,” said Harun Njogu a trader.

Another trader said apart from the garbage menace, the market at the moment don’t have enough toilets and clean water despite promises by political leaders.

Garbage collection

Muthurwa market Chairman Nelson Githaiga said that garbage collection has not been regularised in the market adding the wastes have not been collected for three weeks now.

“We have been making some inquiries about the delay in collection and shockingly, we were informed that the County garbage trucks did not have fuel,” Githaiga claimed.

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Mobility Boniface Nyamu dismissed claims that the county garbage trucks have been without fuel for some time now.

“I have heard about the same claim but it is just propaganda, we have talked to those in charge of the collection and the matter is being sorted out,” Nyamu explained.

However Public health expert Collins Lando warns that those selling next to untreated sewage or garbage are exposing customers to deadly diseases mostly noticed during advanced stages.