A section of Witeithie residents in the outskirt of Thika town protested on Wednesday over the neglect of a dumpsite in the area that is now used by children as a makeshift swimming pool.
The residents complained of poor hygiene and irritating smell that comes from the dumpsite which is however still alluring to children in the area.
According to Samuel Waweru, a resident, the smell has been making life miserable in the area and they have even complained to the area MCA Peter Muiruri.
Waweru said that children under the age of 16 years have been swimming in the dumpsite regardless of the smell and an attempt to stop them has bore no fruit.
He expressed his worries and concerns of the toxic water that may results to skin disease to children and prove fatal to their health.
“Young children have been swimming in the dumpsite yet its unhygienic, they may contract dangerous disease sof the skin,” he said
The area MCA Peter Muiruri who arrived at the scene to calm the irate residents said that plans are underway to build a perimeter wall in the area to act as a tourist attraction come 2015.
He said that in partnership with the county government will ensure the area is well guarded and any person who will be found swimming will be prosecuted.
The legislator however challenged the parents who leave their children in the area to swim that they are supposed to be vigilant and strict so that the children do not swim in the dumpsite.
He warned those people who treat the dumpsite as a source of income by training children to swim in contaminated water that their days are numbered.