Toxic waste disaster in Mombasa

In an incident that brought back unfortunate memories of a similar disaster in Abidjan, the BBC has a disturbing report on an apparent toxic waste spill in Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city.

Hundreds of residents claim that they started to become sick after a consignment of leaking chemical containers was dumped nearby.

Others have complained of breathing difficulties, stomach upsets and chest pains, including the BBC journalist who went to the area to report on the story. Two residents said they had miscarriages.

Two people have been arrested and charged in the incident. The World Service's Focus on Africa program reported that they belonged to a Ugandan company.


An editorial in Nairobi's Business Daily urges the country's National Environment Management Authority to be more pro-active in preventing such disasters in the first place. Noting that the area is being subjected to the ongoing dumping of electronic waste such as obsolete computers, televisions, mobile phones, and other used electronic equipment exported from USA and Europe.