j.m@talk
01-06-2005, 03:39 PM
A much-needed once-over at Kenya's main food market has sucked up 64 tonnes of human waste.
The spring clean at Wakulima Market in Nairobi also killed 6,000 rats and emptied the area of 680 tonnes of rubbish.
Workers undertook the operation for the first time in 30 years, much to the relief of residents - it supplies food to most of the city's three million people.
With rubbish piled up two metres high, health officials somewhat understatedly called the market a health hazard.
Local government minister Musikari Kombo was more direct about its state.
"Was I shocked?" he said. "I was traumatised by the rot."
And a touch more sombrely he added: "We were lucky to be spared a major outbreak of disease."
After the cleaners used 160,000 litres of water to wash up the market, some veteran stall holders were given a shock.
Mr Kombo said: "Some of the traders who have operated at the market for a long time have been surprised to see that there was tarmac below the garbage." :(
Linkage (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91059-13277014,00.html)
The spring clean at Wakulima Market in Nairobi also killed 6,000 rats and emptied the area of 680 tonnes of rubbish.
Workers undertook the operation for the first time in 30 years, much to the relief of residents - it supplies food to most of the city's three million people.
With rubbish piled up two metres high, health officials somewhat understatedly called the market a health hazard.
Local government minister Musikari Kombo was more direct about its state.
"Was I shocked?" he said. "I was traumatised by the rot."
And a touch more sombrely he added: "We were lucky to be spared a major outbreak of disease."
After the cleaners used 160,000 litres of water to wash up the market, some veteran stall holders were given a shock.
Mr Kombo said: "Some of the traders who have operated at the market for a long time have been surprised to see that there was tarmac below the garbage." :(
Linkage (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91059-13277014,00.html)