Owino Uhuru | |
|---|---|
  Location within Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 4°00′S39°37′E / 4.00°S 39.61°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Mombasa County |
| City | Mombassa |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 3,800 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Owino Uhuru is a village in Mombasa, Kenya, sometimes described as a slum.
The village's drinking water supply was polluted by lead in the 2010 and 2020s.
Owino Uhuru is a village in Mombasa, sometimes described as a slum. [1]
In 2022, Owino Uhuru had a population of 3,800 people, most of whom live in simple dwellings and work in the nearby ports. [2]
From 2007 [1] to 2014, [3] Metal Refinery EPZ operated a lead-acid battery recycling factory near the village. [3] The process included use of a lead-smelter, which leaked lead-contaminated waste-water in the drinking water source of the village. [2]
2015 tests by the Kenyan Centers for Disease Control found villages with lead levels in their blood at dangerous levels. A campaign led by Phyllis Omido saw the factory's owners and the Government of Kenya challenged for compensation in court [3] in 2016. [1] In 2020, the Environment and Land Court [4] awarded 3,000 villagers Sh.13 billion [5] (the equivalent of U.S. $12 million [1] ), before the government appealed the decision. [1]
In June 2023, the appeal was upheld by the Court of Appeal. [5]
