Raw sewage at Boulargi in Garissa township sub-county./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has accused the national government of neglecting the collapsed Boulargi sewage system in Garissa sub-county, describing the situation as “embarrassing and disgusting.”
Located about 10 kilometres from Garissa town, the Sh700 million facility was originally implemented by the Northern Water Services Board (now the Northern Water Works Development Agency) with funding from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.
Today, raw sewage flows freely across the area, which is ironically also a tourism site and home to the endangered reticulated giraffe.
Speaking during World Tourism Day celebrations held at Boulargi, Governor Jama called on Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo, who was present, to push the national government for a permanent solution.
“It is very unfortunate that today, as we are talking, we have raw sewage freely flowing a few metres from where we are seated. This is a shame and a disgrace,” Jama said.
The governor noted that even though sanitation services which include sewage systems were devolved under the 2010 constitution,,that particular project which was started pre-devolution(2009) by the ministry of water had not yet been handed over to the county.
"One thing that should be noted is that,while sewerage function is devolved,this particular project that was initiated by the National government was never handed over to us.Thats has remained to be the case," the governor said.
Residents and conservationists echoed the governor’s concerns. Mohamud Garat, Senior Manager at the Boulargi Giraffe Sanctuary, warned that untreated sewage has been killing wildlife and livestock.
“We have been losing our livestock, giraffes, gerenuks, and waterbucks after either consuming the contaminated sewage or drowning. Surely, for how long will we continue being subjected to this kind of suffering?” he asked.
Zamzam Ahmed, treasurer of Boulargi Primary School, said children have developed eye conditions and skin diseases linked to exposure to raw sewage. She urged the national government to intervene, noting that earlier promises of jobs from the project never materialised.
Wildlife activist Hussein Bashir said the community is considering relocating. “We face a great risk from the collapsed sewage system. Several leaders have visited the site, but no help has arrived to date,” he said.
Residents further revealed that three people have drowned in the open sewage facility, while El Niño floods destroyed its protective fence, leaving it unguarded. The collapsed walls of the 5,500m³ treatment plant now emit an unbearable stench, polluting the surrounding environment.
“The entire environment is polluted. We are on the verge of closing Boulargi Primary School due to harmful pathogens. Just look at the dead fish floating in the sewage—how can we survive in such conditions?” Ahmed asked.
The crisis has sparked renewed pressure on the national government to step in and restore the facility before it causes further harm to people, wildlife and the fragile local ecosystem.
