What does it take to build community in one of Africa’s largest dumpsites?
In this episode, Cricket Writes from The Artistic Junction Collective talks about the reality of daily life at Dandora Dumpsite and community efforts to create change through art and collective action. Cricket walks us through the physical site and the social structures that govern it: the hierarchy between “big fish” and ordinary waste pickers, the struggle for school fees, and the dangers workers face without compensation or protection.
You’ll hear how The Artistic Junction Collective uses theatre, film, and poetry to address gender-based violence, provide alternatives to crime for youth, and work towards establishing a community art centre that offers residents a space to tell their own stories.
Participating in this episode are also Geoffrey Karani, Kennedy Kiige, Wambui Gitangu, Susan Nyambura, and Ann Mega.
Recorded on site at Dandora Dumpsite in Nairobi, Kenya, this episode showcases the harsh realities of working in waste and how communities respond to systemic neglect with creativity and solidarity.
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Video Impression
People
Cricket Writes, The Artistic Junction Collective
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cricket-writes-693182367/
Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:15 Waste gets delivered
02:14 Weight Bridge
07:54 Boys, women and Big Fish
14:52 Health and Safety
19:39 Goats and birds living in Dandora
20:33 Glass: Reused, Recycled and Repurposed
21:30 Turning waste into value
26:22 Korogocho – the Slum Nearby
28:01 Home
35:21 Art and Theater
36:45 Christmas
37:57 Own Space
42:02 Climate Change Attitude and Responsibility
About
Dandora Dumpsite has served as Nairobi’s principal waste site since the 1970s. Despite being declared full in 2001, it continues to receive over 2,000 tonnes of unsorted waste daily. The site sustains an informal economy where thousands of waste pickers sort through materials to extract recyclables, earning around $2-3 per day. However, this comes at a severe cost: routine open burning releases toxic smoke that causes respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and other serious health impacts in surrounding communities. Yet systemic change remains slow, with county plans for waste-to-energy solutions facing ongoing delays and legal challenges.
Working within this environment are community-based initiatives such as The Artistic Junction Collective. Led by poet and activist Cricket Writes, the collective uses theatre, film, poetry, and visual arts to address social issues affecting the community, from gender-based violence to lack of opportunities for youth. They organise performances, create films about local realities, and are working to establish a community art centre that can serve as an empowerment space for residents. Through creative expression and community organising, they offer alternatives to crime and provide platforms for residents to tell their own stories.
Participating in this episode are also Geoffrey Karani, Kennedy Kiige, Wambui Gitangu, Susan Nyambura, and Ann Mega.
Further Links
Link tree to Cricket Writes channels: https://linktr.ee/wanjirahezron91?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=d8a07959-f442-4d3c-a7f6-002dee8b7055