Kandara villagers count losses as firm effluent floods farms

Residents of Nguthuru village in Kandara have cried out to the government to stop a fruit processing factory from dumping waste on their farms.

Trouble started last year when run-off water waste from a local company overflowed into the neighbouring farms.

Neighbours said they thought the issue would be a short-term challenge and reached out to the management of the company to have it resolved. They claim the company officials visited their farms and assessed the damage but no further action was taken.

Months later, parts of their farms have turned swampy from the dark waste water.

The banks of river Makindi that were once filled with a lush green cover of arrowroots now lay bare as residents continue to count losses.

The air is also been filled with a strong stench and residents have expressed fear it could cause respiratory problems.

Such is the case for 76-year-old Mary Nyaguthii who depends on her farm to support her family.

Her 42-year-old son was involved in an accident that left him with a spinal injury more than 10 years ago and has been bedridden since.

His four kids are in Nyaguthii’s care.

She said from her parcel of land, she would harvest about 20 bags of arrowroots each season that would provide sufficient income for her family.

But her farm that borders the factory has been hardest hit as the waste affected a large part near the river on which the arrowroots grew.

Nyaguthii has been forced to plant vegetables on another part of her farm but has to get an alternative source of water for irrigation.

“I have to get my irrigation water upstream in a part that has not been contaminated by the waste,” she said.

To make matters worse, Nyaguthii’s house has developed deep cracks.

“Every once in a while, they bring in compactor machines that cause my house to shake,” she said.

Nyaguthii said her chest has been congested for months and she has to use an inhaler.

“At night, the stench that fills the air is so strong and it leaves me so concerned for my health and that of my bedridden son,” she said.

Her neighbour Alice Wanja said her mud-walled house once collapsed at 2am as her family was sleeping.

Wanja said she mobilised her neighbours to help rebuild her house.

Joseph Irungu, another resident, said food crops wither and die days after coming into contact with the waste water.

“When we reached out to the company’s management, they told us to get alternative land and relocate,” he said.

Farming arrowroots, he said, was his only source of livelihood and would give him an income of up to Sh500,000 annually, with two harvests every year.

Irungu said the proceeds helped him build a permanent home and educate his children. He said the land near the river has been rendered unproductive.

“I had planted arrowroots on an acre of land and they have all been destroyed. All that remains is a swamp,” he said.

But Waithaka Kinyanjui said the company at first admitted liability and was willing to have a sit-down with residents.

An agriculture officer from Muruka ward did a valuation report that indicated residents had accrued up to Sh4.6 million in damages to crops.

But he said when the report signed by Josphat Maina was presented to the company, no headway has been made, even as the farmers continue to accrue more losses.

The waste, he said, has rendered many families food insecure and affected approximately 20 acres downstream.

“We support development and we were very happy when the factory was built here but it cannot also be at our expense. We have lodged our complaints with the company but they have been disregarded,” he said.

Kinyanjui said they fear the contaminated water and foul smell could spark an outbreak of diseases.

Daniel Karugi said he lost a contract with a major hotel in Nairobi to supply arrowroots when all his crops dried up.

He had employed seven women to tend and harvest the arrowroots.

“If you see my farm now and compare it to how it was a year ago, you would not believe it’s the same place. It was green and beautiful,” Karugi said.

“Our call is to Governor Irungu Kang’ata to suspend the company’s licence until it comes up with a proper waste management plan.”

Muruka chief Ephantus Ngugi said the issue had been forwarded to the deputy county commissioner.

Attempts to reach out to the company’s management were unsuccessful as police officers guarding the premises said the managers were unwilling to engage journalists.

Murang’a county Nema director Sarah Wambui said she just received complaints from residents and pledged to follow up on the matter.

She said the company had acquired a dumpsite for its waste in Gikono and pledged to conduct a fact-finding visit on Wednesday.