Residents of Ndunyu Njeru in Nyandarua County have voiced their strong opposition to the construction of a honey refinery within a public cemetery that also houses a sewage plant.
This contentious project, spearheaded by the Nyandarua County government, has sparked outrage among locals, who perceive it as a direct affront to their cultural beliefs and practices.
“We have seen a banner claiming to build a honey refinery inside a cemetery, where people are buried, it is something we don’t understand, so who will consume the honey, probably children who don’t understand anything,” remarked one resident.
“If someone wants to start a project, they can purchase land; there are several parcels available here in Nyandarua. Imagine harvesting your honey from the bush and taking your honey to a cemetery,” expressed another resident to the press.
The protestors have directed their ire towards the county government for failing to engage the community in the decision-making process regarding this project. They have also accused the local Member of County Assembly (MCA) of negligence and a lack of transparency in the matter.
The residents have further raised concerns about the project’s proximity to a sewage plant and a dumpsite, which they believe poses significant health risks.
They pointed out that the county government had already invested substantial funds in the sewage plant and dumpsite, and the decision to undertake another project within the same vicinity has left them perplexed.
“The dustbin built inside this cemetery has no purpose, yet a lot of money was spent building it. Now we are witnessing another mistake of building a refinery in a cemetery,” remarked a resident.
“The MCA from this ward doesn’t consult anyone before implementing a project. He uses his own thoughts to take action, and we want an explanation of the actions of our MCA,” demanded another resident.
In the eyes of the community, a cemetery or graveyard holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, and constructing a honey refinery within this sacred space is seen as a direct contradiction to their cultural values and beliefs.
“According to our culture, we recognize the sanctity of a cemetery. The resting place of the deceased deserves the utmost respect and reverence. We are witnessing a situation where bodies are being exhumed for a honey company to be built, and we still do not understand if they have transformed the cemetery into a honey production facility,” lamented a concerned resident.
