By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Residents of Tola Estate in Juja, Kiambu County, are up in arms over the dumping of donkey and pig carcasses in residential areas, which they fear could pose serious health risks.
The residents, who have had to endure a foul smell emanating from the site, blocked the Ndarugu-Mang’u road with the rotting carcasses in protest, expressing fears of a possible disease outbreak.
Addressing journalists during the protest on Monday, September 14, 2026, the residents accused local public health and county officials of ignoring their plight despite the matter having been reported to them several times.
They said the dumping, which they claimed usually takes place at night, has been going on for months, prompting them to block the nearby main road in protest.
Stanley Mwangi, a resident, said they were shocked that the area where the rotten animal remains were being dumped was not designated as a dumpsite but was within a residential neighbourhood.
“Besides the horrendously foul smell that engulfs our homes, the site has attracted scores of scavengers, including hyenas, stray dogs and crows, which feast on the carcasses,” Mwangi said.
He said the dumping began several years ago with hundreds of dead pigs, but those responsible later started bringing donkey heads, entrails and whole carcasses wrapped in canvas sacks on a weekly basis.
“The situation is likely to get worse when it starts raining as the sludge is going to be washed into our compounds and also the nearby water bodies. This could cause an epidemic,” Mwangi said.
He added that residents did not know where the donkeys were being brought from but suspected they could be from the Mwea area of Kirinyaga County, where he claimed theft of the animals was rampant.
“We do not have donkeys in this area and many other nearby parts of Kiambu. We suspect they are brought from outside the county, probably Mwea area in Kirinyaga,” he said.
Lilian Wanjiku expressed fears over health risks, particularly to children, saying the remains were being scattered by scavenging animals.
“The scavengers, especially dogs and crows, usually drag the smelly stuff to our homes, putting our children and ourselves at high risk of catching diseases,” Wanjiku said.
She also expressed concern that the situation could worsen with the expected rains, as the contaminated sludge could be swept into homes and a nearby river.
Simon Chege said the dumping menace had persisted for several months without action from the authorities, despite local administrators being alerted.
He accused the local administration of turning a deaf ear to the problem, despite repeated reports from residents.
