As the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams start across the country on Monday, 26 October 2026, residents in Mombasa are decrying the pile-up of garbage in the county. The garbage problem in Mombasa has risen significantly and drawn widespread concerns from education stakeholders who are worried that the issue might impede the smooth issuance of exams to students due to the bad smell, noise and discomfort associated with the garbage.
Residents are now calling on the County government to step up its garbage collection efforts and ensure that the potential environmental and health impacts associated with the garbage pile-up are comprehensively avoided.
Garbage collection has been a thorny issue in the county government of Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir who doubles up as the Deputy Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Oversight in the county has slowed due to the coast region’s dalliance with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) within the broad-based governance arrangement.
Education stakeholders are now worried that the casual approach to garbage collection and dumping could massively interfere with learners sitting the two exams over the coming week.
In Tudor area of Mombasa County, 3 schools with a combined population of more than 1000 students are at risk of health hazards following a massive pile-up of garbage within the school’s locality. Khamis High School (student population of 633 students), AIPCA Makande Academy (264 students) and Busy Bee High School (238 students). The situation also affects the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).
Busy Bee High School Principal Dorothy Kaimuri says the garbage problem around the school extends beyond its mere presence. She says even when the trucks come to pick up the garbage, there is a lot of noise pollution that will affect students sitting exams at the school.
“We know there shall be complications because as the trucks come to pick the garbage, there shall be a lot of bad smell and noise,” said Kaimuri.
The examination period is an important period for learners. Most of them will be keen to do well in the exams and advance to the next stage of their education. Dealing with a garbage problem during such a critical period of their education is, therefore, unfair to them and unfair to the teachers who have worked hard to help the students arrive at this critical period of their education.
Garbage Problem In Mombasa Disrupting Exams Preparation
Busy Bee High School Deputy Principal Kenneth Omollo says the smell disrupts learning activities at the school.
“There is a very bad smell coming from the mountains of garbage around the school. There are instances where the garbage collectors keep dumping the garbage around the school for days on end until the truck comes to pick it,” said Omollo.
Despite their repeated attempts to reach out to relevant environmental bodies and institutions within the county’s governance structure, a permanent or temporary solution is yet to be found.
The situation is in stark contrast to other schools across the country. In Nairobi County for example, the leadership has instituted legislation to ensure minimal pollution and noise around schools. The county’s Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA), CAP 387 and the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act, 2021 outlaws environmental pollution and noise emission near learning institutions.
On its part, Mombasa County government’s regulatory legislation through the Mombasa County Environmental Health and Sanitation Act, 2017 is loosely implemented and casually enforced by the responsible bodies. This has led to a sharp decline in its law enforcement status and overall growth.
Beyond environmental pollution and noise pollution, Tudor Member of County Assembly (MCA) Samir Bhalo says the dump sites have contributed to a significant rise in insecurity in the area. He says residents are facing repeated attacks in the area as thieves roam about the dumping sites and pounce on unsuspecting residents. He says an increasing number of people are losing their valuables on a daily basis despite their best efforts to work with security officers in law enforcement.
“Residents of Tudor Ward have been massively affected by the garbage dumping. We are calling on Environmental bodies, including NEMA, to help us ensure there is strict adherence to environmental protection around this area,” said Bhalo.
Tudor resident Awadh Aboud says insecurity is costing locals a lot as thieves roam about the dumpsite and rob people of their valuables.
“We are losing laptops and mobile phones every night when passing close to this place. Every day, an average of 2 mobile phones and 2 laptops are lost by residents. Many cases have been reported at the police station, but no action has been taken so far,” says Aboud.
As the country heads towards the festive season, it is important that county governments coordinate with the national government to ensure that citizens live well and are not exposed to potential health hazards associated with unregulated dumping.
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