Along the IBER Africa high voltage electric lines that cuts through Umoja estate, there are five garbage sorting sites.
In the past they were a little bit organized where people would take their unused metallic, plastic and other artifacts to sell for a few coins.
However, these days, these sites have grown big, though some still serve the purpose articulated above, one of the three has grown into a big dumping site where sorting of garbage is done.
Residents have expressed fears of rise of gangs such as those occasionally witnessed in Dandora Dumpsite.
“I have lived here for 10 years, this was a small garbage sorting area, which has now grown big. We fear for our safety”, said a resident.
Security issues
In 2013, there was a fierce battle for the control of the dumpsite by youths from rival factions in Dandora and Korogocho. Guns, machettes, bows and arrows were the tools of war.
Though the Umoja estate garbage sorting are is clean, as tracks often come back to cart away all the garbage that is left after sorting, the issue of smell and flies persist.
“we fear that our children might contract some disease from the flies that come from the dumpsite”, said another resident.
Families of dumpsite workers have built temporary shades, and their numbers is growing everyday.
Buildings, most of them churches, have also cropped up under the IBER AFRICA power lines.
This has created another danger, a slum, akin to the one around Kayole Junction, might be slowly growing in the area.
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