Mombasa County has officially shut down the Tudor Manyimbo dumpsite in Mvita Constituency, bringing to a close years of unregulated waste disposal at the site and marking a notable shift toward more sustainable waste management practices.
The closure follows the commissioning of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) designed to enable waste sorting, recycling and safer handling of solid waste generated in Tudor and surrounding neighbourhoods. County officials say the move will significantly reduce environmental degradation and public health risks that had long plagued residents living near the dumpsite.
For years, the Tudor Manyimbo site posed serious health and environmental concerns, particularly during the rainy season when flooding and leachate spread waste into nearby homes and public spaces. The dumpsite’s proximity to Busy Bee School heightened these risks, exposing pupils to foul odours, disease vectors and unsafe conditions.
Speaking during the closure exercise, Tudor Ward Member of County Assembly Samir Baloo said the decision was the result of sustained collaboration between the county’s Environment and Health departments aimed at addressing the site’s long-standing hazards.
“The impacts on residents and institutions around the dumpsite were severe, especially during the rainy season,” Baloo said, noting that children at Busy Bee School were among those most affected. He added that waste from Tudor would now be diverted to a recycling facility, where it would be sorted before final disposal, reducing the overall volume sent to landfills.
The MCA also cautioned residents and waste collectors against illegal dumping at the former site, saying enforcement measures had been put in place. Warning signposts have been erected, while licensed garbage collection companies have been formally notified of the new waste disposal arrangements.
Confirming the closure, County Director of Administration and Human Resources in the Department of Environment, John Kuti, said the Tudor Manyimbo site had ceased operating as a waste transfer point. All collected waste, he explained, will now be transported to the county’s MRF yard for separation, with recyclable materials recovered and residual waste taken to the Mwakirunge landfill.
“With this closure, Mvita Constituency no longer has any waste transfer points,” Kuti said, describing the development as an important step in streamlining waste management and reducing environmental pressure within densely populated areas.
Local residents have welcomed the move as a long-overdue intervention. Khamisi Charo, who lives near the former dumpsite, said the closure had already brought relief to the community.
“The smell was unbearable and our homes were constantly dirty,” he said. “Children were especially at risk of falling sick because of the waste. We are grateful that the county government has finally acted.”
From a sustainability perspective, the shutdown of the Tudor Manyimbo dumpsite underscores Mombasa County’s growing emphasis on waste reduction, resource recovery and improved public health outcomes. While challenges remain in enforcing compliance and expanding recycling infrastructure, the transition away from open dumping toward material recovery signals a more environmentally responsible approach to urban waste management.
