The idyllic town of Kilimambogo, nestled between the green plains of Thika East Sub County, has found itself at the centre of a brewing storm.
Residents living near Del Monte’s Pineapple Farm are fuming over the company’s careless use of chemical sprays, which they claim is affecting their health.
The residents have spoken out, demanding that Del Monte stop the daytime spraying and instead conduct the spraying at night when people are indoors.
Their main concern is the dust generated by the spraying, which combines with other clouds of dust and pollutes the air.
According to them, this is leading to respiratory problems, allergies, and other health complications.
“We are tired of being treated like second-class citizens. Del Monte should know better. We are not asking for much, just for them to do the right thing,” one resident lamented in a video circulating on social media.
https://twitter.com/BenjiNdolo/status/1633701998674726912?s=20
But their cries seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Del Monte has remained tight-lipped on the matter, even as the community continues to voice its concerns.
The company is clearly putting profits ahead of people’s health.
“Del Monte is making a lot of money from this farm, and this is how they treat their neighbours?” another resident said.
The situation has sparked a debate on the use of chemicals in farming and their potential effects on nearby communities.
The residents argue that the spraying is affecting their health, and they want the company to take responsibility.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the residents have only one simple plea: “Please stop killing us. We just want to live in a healthy environment.”
The ball is now in Del Monte’s court, and the community is watching to see how they will respond.
