Six arrested in Syokimau sewage crackdown
An aerial view of a section of Syokimau in Machakos County in this picture taken on September 25 2025.
What you need to know:
- Residents’ complaints over sewage flowing into open spaces and residential neighbourhoods have now triggered a county crackdown.
- The county government was forced to act after receiving persistent complaints about raw sewage being discharged in residential areas.
Syokimau’s rapid transformation into a densely populated residential hub is coming with a less attractive problem — raw sewage and wastewater finding its way into the environment.
Residents’ complaints over sewage flowing into open spaces and residential neighbourhoods have now triggered a county crackdown, with six developers and property caretakers arrested for allegedly discharging untreated waste.
The arrests were made during an impromptu operation by a Machakos County enforcement team drawn from the Department of Lands, Housing, Urban Development and Roads.
For residents, the problem is not simply about unpleasant smells or dirty surroundings. Untreated sewage can contaminate the environment and expose communities to serious health risks.
The Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Development Benedict Ngumbau said the county government was forced to act after receiving persistent complaints about raw sewage being discharged in residential areas.
“The untreated sewage being discharged indiscriminately poses serious health and environmental risks to the community. We cannot allow a few individuals to endanger the lives of residents,” Mr Ngumbau said.
The crackdown has also brought into focus the challenges facing fast-growing estates, where new housing developments are coming up at a rapid pace.
The county says some developers have ignored repeated warnings to install proper sewerage and drainage systems.
“We have been issuing warnings to developers to comply with public health and environmental regulations to ensure sewerage and drainage systems are in place. Unfortunately, some have continued to ignore these directives,” Mr Ngumbau said.
The authorities also found that those arrested were operating without valid National Environment Management Authority (Nema) certificates.
The certificates are intended to ensure developments meet environmental and sanitation requirements.
The sewage problem comes as Syokimau and neighbouring estates prepare for the possibility of heavy rains.
Mr Ngumbau has urged property owners to inspect their drainage and sewerage systems and take measures to prevent sewage spills and flooding.
The warning extends beyond Syokimau to other rapidly developing parts of Machakos County, including Mlolongo and Athi River.
The county government says enforcement teams will intensify surveillance in the areas and take action against developers who fail to comply with public health and environmental requirements.
The six suspects are expected to be arraigned in court. Mr Ngumbau said the operation would continue, insisting that development should not come at the expense of residents’ health and the environment.
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