Polluted Paradise: Garbage Dumping Endangers Lake Nkunga and Residents
By Brian Gitonga, DevReporter, Meru County
In Summary
Lake Nkunga supports households, livestock, and tourism in Meru County.
A poorly managed dumpsite nearby is contaminating air and water.
Residents report respiratory illness, insect infestation, and fears of water pollution.
When smoke from burning garbage drifts across her home, Florence Kairuthi knows an asthma attack could follow....
From Streets to the Ring: How Boxing is Giving Meru’s Youth a Second Chance
By Brian Gitonga, DevReporter, Meru County
In Summary
The Meru Boxing Club mentors over 400 youth from slums in Meru County.
The club has helped youth escape drugs, crime, and depression while developing discipline and life skills.
Trainees have competed nationally and internationally, and some have secured employment through boxing.
When 20-year-old Erick Kinyua Gitonga...
A New Step: How Prosthetics Are Empowering Meru’s PWDS
By Brian Gitinga, DevReporter, Meru County
In Summary
Meru County has 49,815 PWDS, but most remain unregistered and miss out on support
Spark provides free prostheses and counseling through donor support, changing lives
Prosthetics cost up to KSh 300,000, putting them out of reach for many without help.
Meru County is home to...
Sanitation Crisis: Life Without Toilets in Meru’s Shauri Yako Slum
By Brian Gitonga, DevReporter, Meru County
Key Highlights
Over 250 households in Shauri Yako have been without toilets for four years, forcing residents to rely on flying toilets.
From January to September 2023, the area reported 814 cases of diarrhea, 209 cases of intestinal worms, and 75 cases of H.Pylori, according to Dr. Festus Mwenda,...
Poisoned Flow: How Water Pollution is Threatening Lives in Meru’s Kooje Estate
By Brian Gitonga, DevReporter, Meru County
Key Highlights
River Mpuoni in Meru’s Imenti North Constituency has become a health hazard due to raw sewage pollution.
Blocked septic tanks from the Kooje and Gakoromone estates are the primary sources of contamination.
Public health tests have confirmed that the river is heavily contaminated with fecal matter.
According to...
Community Learning Hub: Meru County Library’s Role in Access to Education and Growth
By Brian Gitonga, DevReporter, Meru County
In Summary
Meru County Library charges Kshs 20 for daily access.
The Library mentors grade 5-7 students in writing, resulting in a short story collection publication.
The Library offers training programs, including graphic design, to promote youth self-reliance.
A recent African Population and Health Research Center study reveals that...
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