Sewer not repaired for six months
Raw sewage flowing into the Nairobi River is a threat to the health of Ruai residents.
This is after the main trunk line taking waste to the Ruai Treatment plant, in Nairobi’s Eastlands area broke down six months ago at Njiru, spewing its contents.
The river flows all the way to Ruai before eventually joining the larger Athi River and residents often use its water for river-bed agriculture and washing.
According to the Athi Water Services Board, the pillars that supported the trunk line across the river caved in, leading to the spillage.
Bids for repairs
Since then, repair work has been in a state of limbo as first the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, then the board tried unsuccessfully to secure bidders for the repair.
“Unresponsive bids advertised by the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company caused the delay,” said Joseph Kamau from the Athi Water Services Board.
“After consultation with the Ministry of Water, the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, the board took over,” said Mr Kamau.
The board recently gave the job to a contractor.
When NairobiNews visited the site on Friday, an earth mover was diverting the river for construction to start.
But even then, Mr Kamau said it would take at least two months to finish the work, meaning the residents downstream will still be exposed to health hazards.
A few weeks ago the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) warned the residents against using the water.
The trunk line carries waste from the city centre, Kasarani, Westlands, Kariobangi South, Eastleigh and Kiambu, among other places.
Thousands of cubic litres of waste water have been flowing down stream everyday endangering lives.