As you approach Homa Bay town from the direction of Kendu Bay, a foul stench hits you badly. The stench is from the local sewerage treatment plant which is poorly maintained.

Local residents have lodged numerous complaints about failure by the county government to address the poor state of the sewerage plant. For many months, the plant has been producing bad odour which makes it difficult for the locals to breathe comfortably.

The sewerage treatment plant is located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Makongeni Estate, adjacent to the Department of Transport and Public Works. The national housing corporation is also undertaking the construction of affordable houses just opposite the plant. Also neighboring the sewerage plant are juakali artisan shades producing furniture.

Despite all the activities going on, little has been done to address the bad smell. Contacted, the management of Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company (Homawasco) acknowledged the problem and promised to address the matter.

Thomas Opyo, a r
esident of Makongeni Estate said the bad smell taints the image of the town. ‘The stench greets you when you approach the town. It creates a bad impression especially for both domestic and foreign tourists visiting the area.’

He urged the county government to speed up the plans to relocate the plant for air quality around the place to improve. Traders too complained that the unpleasant smell affects their business.

Mr Felix Omondi and Ms Emilly Atieno who both sell tree seedlings by the road side in Makongeni Estate lamented that they have lost business because motorists no longer make stop overs in the area to buy trees.

‘As we walk customers around to check on the seedlings, they get disgusted by the stench and some leave hurriedly without purchasing seedlings. Ms Atieno told the county government to urgently address the problem. ‘The bad smell may lead to health complications especially for people who stay in the area for long hours,’ she said.

Trucks carrying raw sewage can be seen depositing waste at
the plant on a daily basis. The infrastructure at the plant has deteriorated with part of the perimeter wall having collapsed several months ago.

Homawasco Managing Director Tom Nyonje said the wall collapsed during El-Nino rains saying the water company was in the process of rehabilitating the plant.

‘A short-term solution will be to rebuild the walls and address the smell. But we have long term plans of relocating the treatment plant to a new location,’ he said.

He said that they have secured a piece of land where the plant will be moved to and a robust public participation will be conducted.

‘Governor Gladys Wanga has sought funding for the project from the African Development Bank,’ Mr Njonje said.

Source: Kenya News Agency