Broken sewage poses health hazard at Amalemba estate

Residents of Kakamega county and its environs are at a risk of a serious disease outbreak if an immediate action is not taken to control a sewer line that has broken loose and is directing the dirty water into a river that feeds River Isiukhu in the region.

The sewer line at Amalemba – Shikhoye area, Shirere sub-location, Lurambi division  broke loose on Wednesday night during a heavy down pour and it is yet to be attended to.

The main sewer line that flows from Kakamega town to Bukhulunya sewer plant before being released to river Isiukhu now has people’s lives at hand given that majority of those living down stream are not aware of the breakage and thus using the water from the river for their household chores.

Speaking to the press, a neighbor Paul Esokhe said that they have approached the county government through the water, environment and natural resources ministry to control the situation without success.

Mr. Esokhe said that the line was constructed in 1974 and it has of recent been neglected.

He said that there are no inspections of the plant at all and that they have been suspecting that it does not flow and thus the cause of the explosion.

He says that the county officials have been visiting the site severally promising to act but doing nothing.

School going children were spotted washing hands, legs and even quavers as they strolled home from school using the sewer water.

Mr. Esokhe revealed that they are forced to keep guard to ensure that the children do not touch the water but it remains a challenge given that everybody is at times busy with their daily activities.

He has called upon both the national government and the county government to put their heads together and ensure that the sewer line is corrected and if possible moved to a slant area to avoid a re- occurrence of the same.

Imelda Mwajuma the owner of the farm where the line passes revealed that it is not the first time she is facing such.

She said that time and again she is forced to conduct the environmental department to come and repair leakages, according to her, the repairs done by the department are not up to task.

She said that despite doing a shoddy job, they take long before responding to her calls making it difficult for her to use her shamba.

She added that employing farm hands has been a dream for her given that those who attempt weeding it end up with skin complications due to the spillage.

She further said that feeding animals on the shamba is always hazardous as they end up with swollen stomachs that are at times fatal.

Imelda now calls upon the government to compensate her maize plants that have widely been destroyed by the broken line and demands that the governments buys the piece of land where the line passes or moves it to public land.

Moses Bulimo a teacher who resides at Amalemba told www.westfm.co.ke that the line carries sewer from all households, hotels, bars, hospitals and other buildings in town.

Bulimo said that it is extremely unhygienic to the residents, school going children and those who use water downstream unaware of what is happening.

He has called upon the county government to act with speed to curb the impending danger  which may cause people to acquire diseases that may be difficult to treat.