About two years ago, the footbridge opposite CIGMA Plaza and Nakuru Railway Station on the way to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital (PGH) was impassable because of a foul smell of urine.

As the place was unkempt, locals would use it as a toilet to make a quick call.

It was also not uncommon to see pedestrians clutch their bags tighter when they saw groups of street children hanging out in the area that they had made their chill-out base.

But thanks to three local traders turned environmentalists and agricultural champions, all that has changed after they took it upon themselves to rehabilitate the place and turn it into a vegetable nursery.

David Kimani, Dancun Ndegwa and Zachariah Ng'ang'a started selling their wares next to the footbridge during the Covid-19 period after being evicted from the market.

The three fruit vendors continued their fruit business at the new location, but soon saw a drop in sales due to the disapproval of their customers, who complained of the bad smell.

It was then that the three decided to clear and rehabilitate the site.

“Sisi tulikua tunauzia soko but venye covid ilikam tulitolewa na serikali tukaamua tusettle hapa kando ya hii foot bridge. Since tulikua tunaauza fruits, tulireceive a lot of complaints from our customers about hiyo harufu. Hapa palikua pabaya- palikua choo, kulikua na harufu mbaya, palikua hapapitiki, na customers wakakata kununua chakula tulikua tunauza,” David Kimani said.

They then proceeded to meet with county officials about renting the place and setting up a nursery using the agricultural knowledge they'd seen and experienced growing up.

“Ata before tuende kuomba County ruhusa, tulijua hatutapewa so tukaamua tusafishe vizuri, tukaweka fence, tukalima na kutengeneza barabara, ndio tukaenda kuomba ruhusa. Na venye Department ya Environment iliona kazi tumefanya, wakatuambia tunaeza lease the place tufanyie project yetu. Na since sisi wote tumegroup na parents wamefanya agriculture tukaamua we utilize that knowledge na skills tuliona wakitumia home, hapa,” he continued.

David Kimani tending to Sukuma wiki seedlings at the newly rehabilitated space opposite CIGMA plaza, Nakuru.

Photo credit: Leleti Jassor

The once stinky land is now home to about 50 seedbeds with various seedlings including sukuma wiki, spinach, cabbage, beetroot, hoho, briganya, kunde, zucchini, pilipili kali, malenge, garlic, sageti and a few fruit and tree seedlings. The trio have planted some cacti, flowers and tree seedlings (Hass avocado and Grevillea) to prevent soil erosion.

The place receives clients from all walks of life in Nakuru County, from as far away as Molo and Solai sub-counties, the nearest being Moi Secondary School, and passers-by accessing PGH Hospital, all of whom have benefited from the rehabilitated project.

David's call to action to the people of Nakuru is to encourage personal responsibility.

"Ukiona space ikona uchafu chukua jukumu kwa mkono yako, enda utengeneze inaeza kuja kukufaidi na pia watoto wako. Na pia utakua na environment hewa safi na mazingira itakua safi."

Why Nakuru residents used to temporarily hold their breath when walking towards the footbridge near CIGMA plaza

Author Spotlight

Leleti Jassor