More than 1,000 Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) were distributed to waste pickers working in Dandora dumpsite to minimize risks of COVID-19 infections for the waste pickers.

KARA in partnership with the UN Habitat, Ministry of Environment- Japan, Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), and the Kenya Association of Waste Pickers, issued the PPEs (Face Masks & Industrial Hand Gloves) to waste pickers working at the dumpsite. The distribution of the PPEs was important as the country is currently grappling the third wave of Covid-19 outbreak which has seen a spike in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Through the partnership, permanent hand washing stations have also been set up at the Dandora dumpsite to enhance hygiene and mitigate risk of Covid19 infections among the waste pickers. We also carried out and developed a report on the risks that waste pickers in Dandora dumpsite are exposed to with specific reference to COVID-19 pandemic. Dandora dumpsite is the largest formally operated dumpsite in Nairobi. The dumpsite attracts thousands of low income urban residents who eke a living out of collecting recyclable waste to sell.