About 10 years ago, the County administration begun the process of reroofing houses that had asbestos roofing in Kaloleni and Kivumbini estates.

When Mtaa Wangu visited some of the areas where the reroofing project has been ongoing, we found locals using the asbestos materials that were removed, to construct makeshift structures like kiosks, chicken houses and even fences.

We meet Bracedes Bidinyo who owns a grocery Kiosk in Kaloleni A. Unlike many kiosks that are made of iron sheets and timber, Bidinyo’s, kiosk has been partly constructed with asbestos roofing sheets.

Ms Bracedes Bidinyo who owns a grocery Kiosk in Kaloleni has partly constructed her kiosk with asbestos material.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“My daughter, I had built a Mabati Kibanda (a stall made from iron sheets),” she addresses me. “However, around December last year, it was blown away by the wind. In January I decided to use asbestos which was readily available to patch up the space that was left,” says Ms Bidinyo.

When asked if she knew the health risks associated with asbestos, Ms Bidinyo says she heard from people in the estate that it causes cancer.

Ms Bidinyo is not the only one using asbestos in the area.

Frank Morei has fenced his home using the asbestos roofing materials extracted when houses in Kaloleni B were being renovated.

For him, the issue of asbestos being harmful is new to him. He says no one has educated him on the dangers associated with asbestos.

Frank Morei stands outside his home which he has fenced with asbestos material.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“I did not know that the material was harmful. I thought the county was reroofing the houses to give them a newer look because the asbestos was old and in bad shape. If I knew the effect of asbestos, I would not have used them,” says Morei.

He adds that he may not be the only one unaware of the health risks that exposure to asbestos poses.

In 2018, the World Health Organization, categorised all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic to humans. This material was also captured as hazardous by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

NEMA recommends safe ways of disposing any toxic and hazardous substances in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations 2006, which asbestos falls under.

According to the environmental & social impact assessment study report – submitted to NEMA by Tai Lifestyle Limited, “Asbestos fibres are easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lung where they can cause fibrotic lung disease and changes in the lining of the chest cavity.”

The report further states that, “Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibres also increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma and the enlargement of the heart can also occur as an indirect effect of the increased resistance of blood flow through the lungs.”

Some of the houses that still have asbestos roofs in Kivumbini ward.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Rose Auma, a resident of Kaloleni B notes that for them, life goes on as usual and that is why some of them do not have a second thought in reusing the hazardous material.

“I have not seen anyone here claiming to have direct effects from asbestos. Nonetheless, I cannot entirely dismiss what the experts say. Most of us have not gone for screening or a full body check to ascertain our health condition in relation to the said effects of asbestos. These things are very expensive and no one is willing to use the little they earn to get a check-up,” says Ms Auma.

As we interact with more locals, we meet Chris Musa, a resident of Kivumbini who is also a community health volunteer. He notes that he is aware of the effects of asbestos.

Mr. Musa notes that his house is yet to be reroofed. However, he calls upon the local administration to educate more residents on the effects of asbestos.

Speaking to area MCA, Neto Sakwa, he reveals that Sh1.2 million has been set aside in the current financial year to aid with the reroofing project, and that the county administration is also in talks with NEMA on the best way to dispose off the asbestos waste.

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Feature: Residents find new uses of asbestos, oblivious of the health risks

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Purity Kinuthia