Residents living near Ndugu Transport Company Limited's quarry in Mamboleo, Kisumu County are raising fresh concerns over what they describe as years of dangerous rock blasting that they claim has damaged homes, disrupted their daily lives and exposed the surrounding community to unnecessary risk.

The residents say they have reported the matter repeatedly to government authorities, including officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Kisumu, but claim little has changed.

The allegations, now put the spotlight on one of western Kenya's largest transport, construction and quarry companies and its senior management.

According to the complainant, the company regularly uses explosives to break rock at its quarry in Mamboleo. Residents say the explosions have become part of daily life, with loud blasts shaking homes and causing fear among families living nearby.

The complainant alleges that the vibrations have damaged houses over the years, leaving cracks on walls and weakening buildings. Residents say many families have been forced to live with the constant fear that another blast could cause even greater damage.

The whistleblower says this is not a new problem.

According to the complaint, a previous blasting incident allegedly sent rocks flying into nearby residential areas. The complainant claims one person was struck on the head while several houses reportedly suffered roof damage after rocks landed on private property.

Residents now question whether sufficient safety measures are in place during blasting operations and whether the quarry is complying with environmental and occupational safety requirements expected of licensed quarry operators.

The company is led by Founder and Chairman Harbhajan Singh Sembi, while Manjeet Singh Sembi serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The company's leadership also includes Jasminder Kaur Sembi, a Director, and Balraj Singh Sembi, the Chief Operating Officer. As the senior leadership team, they are responsible for ensuring the company's quarrying activities comply with Kenyan environmental, mining and public safety laws.

The complaints also raise questions for the National Environment Management Authority, which is responsible for monitoring compliance with environmental laws and licence conditions. If residents have indeed lodged repeated complaints without resolution, they are asking what action has been taken and whether inspections have been carried out.

The matter also falls within the oversight of the State Department for Mining, which regulates quarrying activities, and Kisumu County Government, whose environmental and public health officers have responsibilities relating to public safety within the county.

Residents say they are not opposed to business or development.

Their concern is that commercial operations should not come at the expense of people's safety, homes and environment.

They are now calling on NEMA Director General Mamo Boru Mamo, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Deborah Barasa, the State Department for Mining, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o, and other relevant regulators to investigate the quarry's operations and establish whether blasting activities are being conducted in accordance with the law.

The residents are also calling for an independent environmental and structural assessment to determine whether nearby homes have suffered damage linked to quarry blasting and whether affected families deserve compensation if such damage is confirmed.

Below is the complaint received.

Hello Cyprian Nyakundi. Kindly hide my identity.

There is a company called Ndugu Transport in Mamboleo, Kisumu, that has become a real nuisance to the locals and the environment.

They use dynamite to blow up rocks in their quarry. The blasts are damaging houses and the environment.

Some years back, rocks flew into the air during blasting, hit someone on the head and damaged roofs and houses.

Despite numerous complaints to NEMA officials in Kisumu, nothing has been done.

We are tired of the daily blasting. We want the government to intervene before someone else is seriously injured.