Urgent Need for an International Investigation on Toxic Waste Dumping in NE Kenya – Sen. Kerrow

A prominent Kenya leader, Hon Cyrus Jirongo, has revealed in a televised interview that the Government authorised the dumping of hazardous toxic waste in North Eastern Kenya in 1980s by Western firms licensed ostensibly to explore for oil.

This is a serious revelation, coming from a person who had very close links with the Moi Government.

Leaders from the region have long suspected this and linked the huge number of cancer and other mysterious deaths in Garissa, Wajir and Marsabit regions to possible dumping of toxic waste.

In 2016, KEMRI carried out a study in Marsabit area after a cancer epidemic killed over 500 people, and thousands of animals died from drinking water from underground sources.

At first, it declined to publish the results of the study and later impudently blamed the deaths on impurities in the water. Clearly, they attempted to exonerate the government.

As a senator from the region, I published the article below in the media in 2016, and called on the Government to undertake an independent investigate urgently. No action was taken.

Once again, we call on the Government to order an immediate investigate by international experts.

This is essential in in order to locate the sites, determine  the nature the hazardous waste, and protect the environment and the residents from further damage.

The Government should hold the companies involved  responsible, including officials in Government, and compensate families of all those affected.

The opinion piece reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the opinions or views of Garissa Today or its affiliates.