In a move to champion environmental sustainability, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani today spearheaded a beach cleanup exercise dedicated to the International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8.
Volunteers, environmentalists, and tourism stakeholders joined hands and picked up rubbish along the sandy walkways and those floating nearby the beaches to inculcate environmental sustainability.
The environmental campaign aims to reduce marine debris deposited along the pristine white sandy beaches such as fishing lines, cigarettes, plastic rubbish, single-use plastic bags, man-made wastes, and monofilament nets.
Governor Achani says the beach cleanup drive seeks to encourage public awareness about the detrimental effects of litter on beaches, coastlines, and the oceans and protecting marine life.
She reiterated her administration’s commitment to play a significant role in ensuring a clean, safe, and hygienic marine environment.
“People must be deliberate in their disposition to maintaining a healthy environment for a healthier population,” she said.
Achani says beyond the physical cleanup the initiative seeks to serve as a platform to educate residents on the need to instill sustainable practices in promoting a cleaner environment.
With tools in hand, hundreds of volunteers took time out to clean the shores of Diani Beach which has been voted the best destination beach in Africa for six years in a row by the World Travel Awards.
“Kwale is blessed with a long and beautiful coastline and it is important that we focus on keeping our precious beaches clean and safe,” Achani said and urged residents and tourists to desist from littering the environment.
She urged hoteliers, beach operators, and tourists visiting Kwale to avoid littering the beaches.
Diani Beach is the preferred holiday destination for both domestic and foreign tourists and each year it receives a record number of holidaymakers arriving to savour its beautiful scenery.
During the cleanup exercise along Diani Beach, Achani emphasised the critical significance of safeguarding and conserving the marine environment for posterity.
She said clearing marine debris from the ocean and beaches are important not just for restoring the natural beauty of beaches but also for saving marine life.
Achani noted that sea animals mistake trash such as plastic bags, cigarette lighters, and bright-colored plastic as food and may suffer from internal injury, intestinal blockage and finally starve to death.
She says the devolved government is spearheading efforts on beach restoration and coastal protection to revive tourism and fishing in Kwale.
“The beach cleanup drive seeks to raise awareness on ocean pollution which threatens marine life and motivates communities to take action to make our beaches litter-free,” Achani said.
The coastal county boss says the beach cleanup exercise also advocates for an inclusive world for women, ahead of the coming International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8th, whose theme is: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.
Achani reaffirmed her commitment to continue investing in programs aimed at empowering women across the coastal county on matters of education, healthcare as well as leadership development to accelerate the progress toward gender equality.
By Hussein Abdullahi and Mildred Kelly
