Abandoned vehicles ‘rotting’ in Nairobi estates, posing danger

Kenya does not have an official car junk yard – leaving many junk car owners with very limited options.

Residents now claim that ‘carcasses’ of the ‘rotting’ vehicles are a continuous hazard to their children – and the general public.

That apart from serving as breeding ground for rats, the abandoned junk have been turned into playing items by children.

“A child can easily get injured playing inside these exposed metals. There have been cases of children sustaining cuts, or fractures,” Lenny Okuta, a parent in Embakasi told Wananchi Reporting.  

Others have become convenient hiding places for thieves prowling the night.

According to residents of Eastland area, it is not uncommon to find ‘carcasses’ of lorries, and all manner of cars, left in the open – rotting and counting days.  

The question many are asking is “Where do you ‘throw’ your car when it’s mechanically dead? And there is no buyer to take it off your hands.”

For many years, Bangla has been Kenya’s unofficial car dumping yard. The spot, run mechanics in the quick fix spare parts business, is an open air garage sitting along the Nairobi river, next to Juja road roundabout.

“Many people just park the cars outside the gate, even next to the road, and leave it there,” says Jared Ogwe – a resident and car owner in Nairobi.

Some of the wreckages have been at one spot for over 10 years, ‘taking punishment’ from rain, sun and scrap metal scavengers.

“Often you will find people sneaking at night and grabbing certain parts of the vehicle, and in no time most of the car is gone, leaving behind heavy metals,” says Ogwe.

In developed world, car owners are obligated to recycle, or dispose of their aging vehicles once they reach a certain age – says Charles Gitahi – who deals in cars.

“One is required by law to recycle their vehicles, otherwise it becomes a cost to you. That is why most cars come into Kenya from outside,” he says – adding that most are sold at car junkyard facilities.    

In Kenya – however – most vehicle owners will abandon that annoying car at their mechanic’s shop – never to return.

Others just park them outside their rented house, or their homes in Syokimau or Utawala, and move on with life.

In the past, the Nairobi County government has given owners of abandoned vehicles on road reserves and estates notice to remove them, or they be impounded.

“The vehicles abandoned on city roads, in county land or even estates shall be assumed to be waste and dealt with in accordance to city by-laws,” City Hall had said at the time.

A notice of motion titled ‘Removal of Broken down vehicles in the county’ dated May 3, 2023, was moved by Hon Sospeter Mumbi, MCA, asked owners to remove all broken down vehicles and road construction equipment from any public spaces in the County or they be removed by the County at the owner’s cost at the expiry of a period of two months.Residents have told Wananchi Reporting that abandoned vehicles have become part of estate furniture, and are thus asking for action to be taken.