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
SITE…These 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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