Court Orders Nairobi County to Pay Ksh.25.8 Million to Dandora Waste Pickers Over Pollution Violations
Justice Omollo found that the respondents had breached several fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
Image capturing a section of the Dandora dumpsite in Nairobi. PHOTO| COURTESY
By Ruth sang
The Environment and Land Court sitting at Milimani has ordered Nairobi County to pay a total of Ksh.25.8 million to waste pickers from the Dandora dumpsite because the court found their constitutional rights had been violated through their extended exposure to contaminated air.
Justice Anne Omollo ruled on Wednesday to support the waste pickers case against both the Nairobi County Government and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The class action lawsuit started on September 19 2023 when 1,032 waste pickers filed their case against the Dandora dumpsite because they claimed that uncontrolled air pollution had jeopardized their health and deteriorated their living conditions.
Justice Omollo determined that the two respondents had committed multiple violations of essential rights that the Constitution safeguards. The waste pickers rights to a clean environment and human dignity and their right to healthcare and fair administrative procedures and good governance were violated by the county governments failure to manage waste and control pollution according to the court.
The court ordered that each of the 1,032 waste pickers would receive Ksh.25,000 as their compensation amount. The total amount to be paid by the Nairobi County Government will reach Ksh.25,800,000 through this payment system.
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