- X Introduces M-Pesa Payment Feature - November 22, 2024
- Matiang’i Ordered to Appear in Court - November 22, 2024
- Five Dead, Scores Injured in a Bloody Road Accident - November 22, 2024
Sunday, April 7, 2024 –Mr. Cyrus Jirongo, has for the first time, accused the government of dumping hazardous wastes in North Eastern part of Kenya.
Through an exclusive televised interview with PLO Lumumba on Saturday April 7, the former KANU politician shared unknown information concerning past Government of KANU under the leadership of President Daniel Arap Moi.
Mr. Jirongo revealed that the government then authorised the dumping of hazardous toxic wastes in North Eastern Kenya, in 1980s.
He said the then government had licensed Western firms to explore oil but which ended up dumping killer wastes in the area.
“I was handed the documents and I rushed them to Moi who almost killed me for having an access on such critical intel. He quarreled for thirty minutes and threatened to end my life,” Jirongo shared.
Former senator Mandera County, Billow Kerrow, through his official X-Platform, has regarded the revelations from Jirongo as ‘serious’ and which the authorities have to investigate with speed and establish the motive.
He said, people of North Eastern Region have been dying of mysterious cancer since the Moi era; something that must be addressed by the current regime.
“This is a serious revelation, coming from a person who had very close links with the Moi Government. Leaders from the region have long suspected this and linked the huge number of cancer and other mysterious deaths in Garissa, Wajir and Marsabit regions to possible dumping of toxic waste,” he stated in along statement on our desk.
In 2016, KEMRI carried out a study in Marsabit area after a Cancer epidemic killed over 500 people, and thousands of animals died from drinking water from underground sources. At first, it declined to publish the results of the study and later impudently blamed the deaths on impurities in the water.
Mr. Kerrow notes that, despite him raising the concern with subsequent administrations, no action was taken.
“Clearly, they attempted to exonerate the government. As a senator from the region, I published the article below in the media in 2016, and called on the Government to undertake an independent investigate urgently. No action was taken,” added Kerrow.
Leaders from that part of the country have now called upon the William Ruto-led government to order an immediate investigation into the expose’ which should be conducted by international experts.
They say, this is essential in in order to locate the sites, determine the nature of the hazardous waste, and protect the environment and the residents from any further harm. The government should also hold the companies involved responsible, including officials in government, and compensate families of all those affected.
Jirongo, a politician and businessman by profession, opened up on how powerful Minister in Moi regime Mr. Nicolas Biwott had attempted to fix him with intelligence documents that almost saw the then head of State punish him.