Mercy Kulei Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Kirinyaga County have called on the government to urgently establish a proper disposal mechanism for disposable diapers, warning that poor waste management is posing serious public health and environmental risks.
The promoters say discarded diapers have become a common sight in villages, shopping centres, roadsides and waterways, largely due to the lack of designated collection points and effective waste management systems.
Led by their Mwea chairperson, Francis Munene, the CHPs are urging both the national and county governments to introduce strict regulations to manage diaper waste. They argue disposable diapers are non-biodegradable, contain human waste and take longer time to decompose, making them a major environmental hazard.
Munene warned that the dumping of diapers in rivers and open spaces could contaminate water sources and trigger outbreaks of waterborne diseases, especially during the rainy season.
He said the situation has been worsened by inadequate garbage collection services, forcing residents to dispose of diapers in open fields and waterways.
“These things called diapers are spread all over the area thrown in the fields, roads, and water ways without any proper disposal mechanism. We are begging the government if it is able to help us with the skips tank to ease the management of disposal” Munene pleaded
The promoters are proposing enhanced public education on proper waste disposal and the installation of designated diaper disposal skips in towns and shopping centers.
“It poses a high risk because it can spread diseases especially during rainy, as promoters we are trying the best to educate the citizens but the uncontrolled disposal keep increasing” he added
Another CHP, Martin Waweru, likened the situation to the ban on plastic carrier bags, saying similar regulatory measures are needed to protect the environment, prevent soil, and water contamination.
“We are asking both levels of government to come up with mechanism of making diapers disposal effective, as they did with nylon plastics,” Waweru noted
The CHPs have called on county authorities to strengthen waste collection services and provide appropriate infrastructure to ensure safe and sustainable disposal of diapers across the county.
