Nairobi Expressway Warning After Company Dumps Waste on Highway

A side by side collage of trash under Nairobi Expressway (left) and a vehicle bearing Jomwak Enterprise sticker.
A side by side collage of trash under Nairobi Expressway (left) and a vehicle bearing Jomwak Enterprise sticker.
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Nairobi Expressway.

The contractor undertaking the construction of the Nairobi Expressway has issued a warning after a company dumped 5,000 tonnes of waste on the highway.

In a statement shared on Monday, October 25, the management of the multi-billion shilling construction project indicated that the vehicle bearing the branding of Jomwak Enterprises Limited had been spotted dumping waste along the expressway.

In turn, the contractor argued that the dumping was degrading the environment while costing the project an additional disposal charges.

"It is with utmost regret that we highlight Jomwak Enterprises Limited for propagating environmental degradation along the Nairobi Expressway Project.

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An undated image of the Nairobi Expressway passing above Waiyaki Way in Westlands, Nairobi
Kenyans.co.ke

"They have, on a number of occasions, dumped over 5000 tonnes of waste in the Expressway viaduct posing health and safety hazards to the personnel as well as forcing the contractor to incur additional expenses to remove and properly dispose off the waste," read the notice in part.

The contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has also issued a warning to the company in question noting that it will pursue legal action against them.

"Please note that the Nairobi Expressway Project does not condone any form of environmental degradation during construction and the operation process therefore, the contractor is taking legal action against the perpetrator," the statement reads.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a representative from Jomwak Enterprises, however, distanced the firm from allegations of dumping waste along the Expressway.

"We cannot dump our trash in Nairobi Expressway. We do not have any projects near the highway lately. We are not in Mombasa Road. The project we had near Mombasa Road, its execution period ended in 2019 and we left. We took part in constructing the Mlolongo footbridge in 2019 and left.

"Right now we are based in Kahawa Sukari in Githurai near Thika Road. We cannot carry trash from Thika Road to dump on Mombasa Road. We are now just painting. Our vehicles may travel to pick construction stones and tar only," the representative explained.

He noted that the car photographed disposing off the waste had Jomwak's identity without their consent. "That car does not belong to us, they have just stolen our sticker," the company clarified.

A communications official from Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) declined to comment on the matter noting that Nairobi Expressway was squarely in the hands of the contractor.

"Nairobi Expressway is currently an active construction site, and the contractor is in charge of their security and the security of their materials and equipment," he stated.

This comes after mischievous artists splashed grafitti on Nairobi Expressway months before it is set for completion. The construction of the Nairobi Expressway, which is valued at Ksh65 billion, is set to be finalised in June 2022.

Graffiti on Nairobi Expressway pillars photographed on Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Graffiti on Nairobi Expressway pillars photographed on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
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Brybell
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