• As Nakuru city continues to grows, the county government should transform Gioto Dumpsite into a facility that not only creates safe employment opportunities but also promotes environmental conservation, so that the site can become a place of dignity and sustainable livelihoods rather than a source of illness and pollution.

Tucked away just a few kilometres from Nakuru’s city centre lies the Gioto dumpsite, an expanse of waste that has become both a lifeline and a burden for thousands. For years, Gioto has been the final destination for most of Nakuru’s solid waste, growing into a sprawling mountain of garbage that shapes the lives of everyone who comes near it.

Gioto dumpsite that sits on approximately 30 acres of land was established in 1979. This dumpsite was never designed to handle the waste of a fast-growing city. Originally intended as a temporary disposal site, it has expanded over time into an open dumping ground covering acres of land.

Every day, dozens of trucks rumble in carrying refuse from households, markets, and businesses. As the city’s population has climbed toward half a million, the volume of waste has surged, overwhelming the site’s limited capacity.

But amid the decay and the choking smoke of burning plastic, Gioto is also home to many. An entire informal community has taken root along the edges of the dumpsite. Hundreds of men, and women, find a living by scavenging for recyclable materials—plastic bottles, scrap metal, and anything else that can be sold.

Grace Nyambura, depends on the dumpsite for survival. Grace spends her days collecting discarded nylon paper, which she weaves into shiondos—handmade baskets she sells to buy food and cover basic needs.

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“This business helps me, when I weave and then the visitors come and buy, I am able to buy flour and soap,” Grace says.

Grace Nyambura weaving shiondos (Photo/Courtesy: Michael Waiganjo)

The conditions are dire. During the rainy season, residents face the overwhelming stink that drifts far beyond the dumpsite. For the hundreds of people who work and live around Gioto Dumpsite, the challenges go far beyond the constant smell. The conditions at the site pose serious health risks that affect adults and children alike.

Despite all the negative impacts and health risks, Gioto Dumpsite has proven to be a place of survival, where many families earn a living by collecting and selling recyclable materials to meet their basic needs.

As Nakuru city continues to grows, the county government should transform Gioto Dumpsite into a facility that not only creates safe employment opportunities but also promotes environmental conservation, so that the site can become a place of dignity and sustainable livelihoods rather than a source of illness and pollution.