As the river moves through Kenya’s capital Nairobi, the clear water turns black. And large birds feed on dead animals alongside.
The Nairobi River crosses Kibera, a neighborhood of nearly 200,000 poor people. It goes near several factories that make clothes, alcohol, and building materials. Environmentalists have accused them of releasing untreated wastewater and other pollutants like oil, plastic and glass into the water.
Experts and locals fear the water is harming plants in nearby farms that feed many Kenyans. Community groups help clean up the river and the government is increasing its efforts. But families in the quickly growing suburb of Athi River, some 30 kilometers away, say they can no longer depend on the water.
Anne Nduta is a mother of two babies. At times, she uses the river’s dark waters to wash her children’s clothes by hand.
“When it rains, the Athi River water is usually full of garbage, when it clears a bit we use it to wash clothes,” said Nduta. “But as the dry season continues, the water becomes darker in color and we have to start buying expensive… water.”
A 20-liter can of water sells for 20 shillings, or $0.16. Nduta would need four of them to wash her babies’ clothes every three days.
Morris Mutunga grows vegetables like kale, spinach and amaranth on his farm in the Athi River area. He has watched crops like French beans shrink when he used water from the river.
“I wish those polluting this river upstream in Nairobi could stop for the sake of food security in our country,” he said. The area is the source of many vegetables sold in Nairobi markets.
Stephen Obiero is a scientist who studies organisms and the environment. He said that waste in the river used to water farmland could expose plant products to bacteria and viruses.
The problems start upstream
The problems start further up the river.
Violet Ahuga says her family defecates in bags and throws them in the river because they cannot pay to use modern toilets. She said, “I know what I’m doing is pollution, but there’s no other way because I cannot afford the 850-shilling (about $6.85) monthly toilet fee.”
Besides, many unofficial housing areas also direct their wastewater lines straight into the river. The settlements have open trenches where people pour dirty water that flows into the river.
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