Kiwasco & Kibos Sugar allegedly discharging toxic effluent into Lake Victoria compromising locals' health & right to food; companies' comment
"Shame of Kisumu water company destroying Lake Victoria"
...As late as last week, the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (Kiwasco), which runs the Kisat treatment plant, was still in denial that it was polluting....[Lake Victoria]...However, a Nation investigation has confirmed the worst fears for residents of the lake region that show just how badly the water company is failing. Kiwasco lacks capacity to clean the toxic waste it receives daily. Overwhelmed, it is pumping poison into Lake Victoria, hoping that the lake can dilute the poison on its behalf.
In one of the biggest scandals to rock the water industry, Kiwasco is pumping at least seven dangerous chemicals into the lake, chemicals that can cause all manner of diseases from cancer to the damage of respiratory systems. This may partly explain why respiratory diseases have overtaken malaria as the deadliest diseases in Nyanza. There are also far too many people battling diseases like cancer...To calm their nerves, and to lie to their faces once more, Kiwasco said its attention had been drawn to public complaints regarding the pungent smell emanating from Lake Victoria and mostly around KICOMI area along Busia road...
It is not just Kiwasco that’s getting away with murder. Enter Kibos Sugar Company. Kibos Sugar has, for years, been suspected of polluting the river next to it, which also ends up in Lake Victoria. The company has always denied this...Kibos Sugar Company just dumps the excess waste into the river...Kibos Sugar Company corporate affairs manager Joyce Opondo told us that the company has one of the best effluent treatment plants in Africa that has won it global awards.