Disposed foetuses, condoms and dead dogs are a big cause of clogging in the Nairobi sewerage system. [PHOTO/Standard]
Out of the 80 million litres of faecal waste that flows to the Dandora Sewerage plant daily, about 100,000 kilogrammes are foetuses, dead dogs and used condoms that irresponsible Nairobians inject into the system.
Also found in the system are dead pigs and adult human bodies that get disposed or washed down by rains.
The polythene bags and condoms are said to be the greatest risk choking the system and resulting into blockages.
According to the coordinator at the Ruiru plant Joseph Mburu, dogs and human bodies make a sizable proportion of the whole load.
"Police are involved when we find human bodies.... We sort the garbage, dry and burn it but honestly, it is messing up the screening machines, slowing down operations significantly and demanding extra manpower. Because of the garbage, workers have to be increased from 70 to 150. We have been forced to add two screening levels," he said.
According to Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) boss Philip Gachuki, this garbage is now becoming a major problem and they have to unblock two kilometres of 2-metre-wide sewer lines clogged with the objects.