The Environment and Land Court at Milimani has awarded Ksh25.8 million in damages to 1,032 waste pickers working at the Dandora dumpsite, after finding that state agencies violated their constitutional rights by exposing them to harmful air pollution for years.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Anne Omollo ruled in favour of the waste pickers in a case filed against the Nairobi County Government and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The waste pickers moved to court through a class action suit filed on September 19, 2023, arguing that prolonged exposure to uncontrolled air pollution at the Dandora dumpsite had placed their health at serious risk and degraded their living and working conditions.
Justice Omollo agreed, finding that the respondents had violated multiple rights protected under the Constitution.
The court held that the Nairobi County Government failed to properly manage solid waste and control pollution, directly infringing on the petitioners’ rights to a clean and healthy environment, human dignity, health, fair administrative action, and good governance.
As compensation, the court awarded Ksh25,000 to each of the 1,032 waste pickers, bringing the total amount payable by the Nairobi County Government to Ksh25,800,000.
The ruling marks a significant legal victory for informal waste pickers at the Dandora dumpsite and reinforces the state’s constitutional duty to protect citizens from environmental harm.
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