Wajir Senator demands probe into rising cancer cases, suspects toxic waste dumping

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞n𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟗 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Sen Abass Mohamed (Wajir) has raised alarm over a sharp rise in cancer cases in his county, linking the disturbing trend to suspected dumping of toxic and nuclear waste in Northern Kenya.

In a Statement to the Senate, the Senator is seeking comprehensive data on cancer cases in Wajir since 2014, broken down by age, gender and type of cancer. He also wants to know whether any scientific or environmental investigations have been conducted to identify the possible causes behind the increase.

Abass is pushing for updates from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) on any ongoing or past inquiries in counties including Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit, and Isiolo—areas long rumoured to have been targeted for hazardous waste dumping.

The Senator is demanding clarity on both the immediate steps and long-term strategies the government is taking to address the growing health risk. He is calling for a full environmental audit of the affected regions to determine whether residents have been exposed to radioactive or chemical contaminants.

If contamination is confirmed, Sen Abass insists on urgent clean-up efforts and protections for vulnerable communities.

His request has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, chaired by Sen Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), for further action.