Wajir Soko Mjinga Garbage Crisis

Mariam Hussein, a trader at the market speaking to the press./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Traders at Soko Mjinga market in Wajir town have raised alarm over a worsening garbage crisis that they say is threatening both their livelihoods and public health.

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The busy market, which hosts an estimated 1,000 traders, most of them small-scale vendors dealing in perishable goods such as vegetables, has in the last one month been overwhelmed by uncollected waste.

Piles of garbage now dominate sections of the market, creating an environment traders describe as both unsanitary and unwelcoming to customers.

Mariam Hussein, a trader at the market, said the situation has significantly affected business operations, with many customers avoiding the market due to its current state.

“The situation has greatly affected our business. Customers are shying away from coming to buy goods because of the condition of the market,” she said.

“The chances of contracting diseases are also very high and we don’t want to get to that. Prevention, as they say, is better than cure,” she added.

She said many women, particularly women who depend on the market for their daily income, are bearing the brunt of the crisis.

“Poor waste management has created an unhealthy environment that is affecting both our businesses and our wellbeing,” she said.

Another trader, Ambia Hussein, echoed the concerns and called on relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore order at the market.

She expressed frustration over what she described as neglect by local authorities, warning that the situation could escalate into a serious public health crisis if not addressed promptly.

“It is regrettable that the situation has reached this level, yet we continue to pay cess to the county government,” she said.

“It is unfortunate that the market looks this filthy, yet county officials always collect cess from us and we are not getting good services in return. They need to wake up and do what is required of them,” she added.

She urged the county government to take action to improve waste collection and sanitation services, restore confidence among customers and safeguard the health of both traders and the wider community.

Soko Mjinga market has in the past faced numerous challenges, including frequent fire outbreaks that have left traders counting losses and struggling to rebuild their businesses from scratch.

The current waste management crisis, they say, is yet another setback that threatens their already fragile livelihoods.