R: Messaggio da Korogocho



Come sempre ti siamo vicini, sosteniamo il tuo impegno in comunione con tutti coloro che lottano. Un abbraccio, Gianfranco e C.

 


Da: africa-request at peacelink.it [mailto:africa-request at peacelink.it] Per conto di Kariobangi Catholic Church (by way of Alessandro Marescotti <a.marescotti at peacelink.it>)
Inviato: giovedì 29 settembre 2005 20.21
A: news at peacelink.it; africa at peacelink.it
Oggetto: Messaggio da Korogocho

 

carissimi! jambo!
vi mando un comunicato che stiamo spedendo a tutti gli amici e media per far
sentire la solidarieta della gente degli slum e di dandora per la lotta
contro la discarica che ci sta uccidendo piano piano in vari modi.....sabato
mobilitiamo la gente all'immobilita' di governo e del comune
chiediamo la vostra vicinanza e amicizia, solidarieta'
tuko pamoja
daniele

DANDORA CHURCH COMMUNITY (DCC)
P.O. BOX 47714 00100 G.P.O NAIROBI, KENYA
TEL: 020-780430
MOBILE: 0733702972
EMAIL: combonikario at clubinternetk.com
27th, September, 2005

PRESS RELEASE

ANTI-DANDORA DUMPING SITE PROCESSION
.

The Dandora Church Community is a coalition of religious institutions from the area surrounding the Dandora Dumping Site such as Korogocho, Kariobangi and Dandora itself. The three areas have a population of about 700,000 people.

The DCC will this Saturday, the 1st of October 2005 host a peaceful procession to call upon the Kenyan Government and the Nairobi City Council to relocate the Dumping site to another area away from the mainstream of human habitation. The procession will commence at 9.00am at the Dandora 41 stage. The environment Minister Kalonzo Musyoka, his deputy, Prof. Wangari Maathai and Constitution of Kenya  Review Commission Secretary, Dr. Patrick Lumumba are among the guests invited to grace the occasion.

The effects of the dumping site are in the public domain. The local clinics, researchers and media reports (Daily Nation, Horizon 01.09.05) consistently confirm the health hazards associated with the dumping site. The site is also a conducive environment for criminal activities leave alone the damage the huge fumes cause to the environment. The situation is aggravated by the fact that it neighbours several primary and secondary schools. Children are therefore an immediate casualty of the dumping site. The schools will also join the procession.

For more information, contact Bishop Mahiri (0722686131) of Dandora or Father Daniel Moschetti (0733702972) of Korogocho.









STATEMENT ON PEACEFUL PROTEST BY RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBOURHOODS SURROUNDING DANDORA MUNICIPAL DUMPING SITE TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, 1ST OCTOBER 2005 AT 9.00 A.M

The city of Nairobi generates over 1500 tonnes of solid waste each day, most of which is collected by the Nairobi City Council and other private companies and eventually dumped at Dandora municipal Dumpsite. The absence of a comprehensive legal framework for solid waste management in Kenya, coupled with wanton apathy on the part of duty bearers, has over the last three decades facilitated uncontrolled and indiscriminate dumping, leading to creation of one of the largest sources of human rights violations in Kenya today.

The Dandora dumpsite is located 14 kilometres from Nairobi Central Business District, in an area surrounded by low-income residential estates. In particular, the dumpsite is adjacent to Korogocho, Dandora and Kariobangi estates, which together form a network of residential housing units for over 700,000 people. The increased demand for low income housing in Nairobi over the last three decades has meant that the dumpsite is now almost at the heart of these estates. Despite numerous scientific advices to the relevant duty bearers, and notwithstanding the dumpsite being declared full in the last five years, the deposit of solid waste continues, the brunt of which is gravely borne by these poor communities living around the dumpsite.
Years of uncontrolled and indiscriminate dumping at Dandora has given rise to huge mountains of industrial, medical and domestic waste, for which no action has been taken other than incessant and reckless burning that leaves a perpetual cloud of noxious fumes permanently hovering the adjacent neighbourhoods. As typical of many municipal dumpsite where burning is extensively used, the site is a major source of toxic Dioxins, Furans, lead and Cadmium, elements that have been scientifically proven to be toxic to human beings and the environment. However, unlike proper Municipal dumpsites, the Dandora Site is not fenced, therefore allowing for human encroachment and even habitation within the site. The populations surrounding the site are therefore constantly exposed to the ever increasing volume of these harmful elements.

The authorities at the dumpsite continue to set the mountains of toxic waste on fire, but the incessant inferno does nothing to reduce the mass, it only fills the lungs of the helpless people living in and around the dumpsite. Unrestricted access means that each day, scores of families brave the noxious fumes to scavenge raw materials, much of which eventually finds its way back to neighbourhoods as animal feed and even human food. Stray chicken, pigs, goats, dogs and cats roam the dumpsite eating the toxic matter and becoming vectors of pests and parasites that are eventually transferred to the surrounding homes. The rivers flowing in and around the dumpsite have been contaminated with Leachate that continues to percolate into the rivers and even the water table. These waters are commonly used by neighbouring communities to water their plants and animals. In addition, the lack of perimeter fencing and access control also means that the mountains of solid waste are the abode of numerous gun totting criminals who use the site to traffic stolen goods and even assault members of the public in broad daylight. These criminals have also taken siege of the site, imposing and collecting illegal access fees from users of the dumpsite.

The dumpsite has created a perceived dependency on some of the neighbouring communities, who consider themselves entirely dependant on it for their livelihoods. However, the greater population is conversant with the negative health and security implications of the dumpsite. Most of these people suffer one or more chronic disorders that are directly attributed to the dumpsite, or have at one time been the victims of one or more of the illegal activities associated with the dumpsite. Many unfortunate passers-by have been killed or injured in and around the dumpsite.

In a letter dated March 2nd 2005, the Nairobi Provincial Medical Officer, after conducting an official inspection of Dandora dumpsite, and upon considering many of the aforementioned reasons, declared the dumpsite a Public Health hazard. In a letter addressed to the City Town Clerk, the latter was instructed to inter alia  STOP FORTHWITH THE DISPOSAL OF WASTES TO THE SITE  and RELOCATE THE DISSPOSAL AREA FROM ITS CURRENT SITE TO ANOTHER SAFE AND APPROPRIATE SITEThese explicit instructions are consistent with previous scientific studies, most notably one supported by JICA, that have condemned the dumpsite. Despite knowing the legal and health status of the dumpsite, the relevant authorities have done nothing to address the situation. Attempts to transfer the dumpsite to an identified alternative site in Ruai have been foiled by unscrupulous and ill motivated politicians and officers who fail to put the dignity and sanctity of hundreds of thousands of lives before their own selfish machinations.

The continued existence of the Dandora dumpsite is a blatant disregard of dignity and sanctity of human life and an explicit violation of people’s Constitutional rights as well as International Human Rights Law. The government is failing its obligations to protect the health, security and livelihoods of its people in the face of clear and present danger. No government that has legally committed itself to the protection of the dignity and sanctity of life should allow such a grave nuisance and violation to proceed unabated.

We the concerned people living with this menace call upon our  the Kenyan government  and the Nairobi City Council to immediately honour its obligations to immediately close and rehabilitate the dumpsite. In doing so, the two must take into consideration the welfare of those currently earning their living through recycling the wastes. The Street families who operate from the dumping site should also be considered alongside the rest. Any projects that the government might consider initiating at the ‘ vacated dump site’ must give first priority to those who currently work there.    We therefore stage this peaceful protest to mark the beginning of a struggle that will only end when the government does what is right and just.

For more information, contact Bishop Mahiri (0722686131) of Dandora or Father Daniel Moschetti (0733702972) of Korogocho.

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