Rats, Sewage: Roysambu, USIU Residents Raise Complaints Over Poor Living Conditions

Residents living in Mirema, Roysambu and surrounding areas in Nairobi, including the United States International University- Africa (USIU) have raised several complaints regarding the deteriorating living conditions in their neighbourhood.

Controversial blogger, Cyprian Nyakundi, claimed in a social media post on Tuesday, January 9 that the residents complained of emerging issues that include the spilling of sewage, which according to them is a serious concern.

Furthermore, a section of them pointed out the potholes filled with stagnant water as well as perennial drainage problems which pose a threat to the residents through, among others, the presence of pests that include flies and cockroaches.

A tarmacked TRM drive in Roysambu along Thika Road. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

"Residents of Mirema, Roysambu and surrounding areas, including the USIU, express dissatisfaction with the living conditions in their neighbourhood citing issues such as sewage spillage, potholes filled with stagnant rainwater and persistent drainage problems which have transformed the once posh estate into a breeding ground for pests such as ants, bees, flies, snakes, rats, cockroaches and spiders," Nyakundi wrote.

Speaking to Viral Tea, a resident living within the aforementioned areas confirmed Nyakundi's sentiments and revealed that the situation was also prevalent with the TRM (Thika Road Mall) Drive, which is mostly preferred by foreigners, particularly from Nigeria.

"It usually smells like trash, like the drainage mostly and all those shops that have opened up along the road create traffic and pollute the area and dump their trash wherever they feel like dumping it," the resident stated.

However, the revamped road was viewed to have slightly improved the standards of living, compared to Lumumba Drive which features a series of bumps, with the resident adding that "it also just smells, like the whole area."

The menace is particularly of concern since TRM Drive boasts of residences that can charge up to Ksh65,000 per month for rent, the resident further told Viral Tea.

Numerous spot checks by Viral Tea on both the two roads crossing the Roysambu residence confirm this, with Lumumba Drive in particular bearing heaps of garbage scattered without proper disposal.

Residents have been raising concerns regarding the garbage issue, noting that despite the rubbish being cleared from sewers and roads, it finds its way back to the sewerage system, causing clogging, a situation that worsens during the rainy season.

Additionally, businesses in the area lament encountering rats and insects which have become a menace by destroying their stock and making the area generally difficult to live in and do business.

“This used to be a good neighbourhood, but not anymore. You can see the cabros peeling from the round, and many of them have not been fixed properly,” a resident was quoted by Citizen Digital's Wananchi Reporting.

“This needs some fumigation to get rid of flies, snakes, rats and cockroaches, and let them open up these drainage lines to make this place habitable and ensure there are no cases of disease outbreak in the area.”

The near-perennial cases of power blackouts and bad roads have made life difficult for the residents, especially those operating without backup generators.

There have also been some cases of insecurity, with many asking that bushes be cleared, and huge trees pruned to clear up and open certain roads and paths, given that such areas may pose as hiding spots for criminals.

The residents have since called for permanent solutions to address the problems affecting them in the estates.