Conservation of our environment is a collective responsibility and not a preserve of the government, the Enforcement Officer at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Makueni County Mr. Boniface Wanga said.
Consequently, Wanga said that the community plays a pivotal role in conservation of the environment while emphasizing that they should act without waiting for the government to give directions.
The Enforcement Officer added that, “our environment is our wealth and health hence we should take care of it so that it can also conserve us”.
“Wherever communities are, they can play an important role in conserving the environment. They should not wait for the government or any other stakeholder to tell them what to do. So wherever you are, you can plant tree seedlings, collect waste and educate the public,” said Wanga at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Makueni in Wote town during Mazingira Day on Thursday.
During the event, students from KMTC took part in planting a total of 350 tree seedlings to mark Mazingira Day.
On polythene, the Enforcement Officer said there was an increase in use of the banned polythene in several markets in Makueni County and warned the culprits risked being arrested and prosecuted in court.
“We have warned and educated the members of the public on the use of the banned polythene. Those individuals who continue to use them are doing so illegally. They risk being arrested and prosecuted as per the law,” he warned.
On his part, the Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Henry Wafula who presided over the event encouraged people to grow, nature and adopt a tree and ensure it matured in an effort to improve the environment.
Speaking at the function, the Environment, Natural Resources, Mining and Climate Change Chief Officer (CO) Dr. Geoffrey Muthoka lamented over the rampant destruction of trees by Kenya Power Company in the county.
In this regard, Dr. Muthoka urged Kenya Power to cut down trees as per the procedure laid down by the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) in a bid to avert a crisis in the county.
“We have heard complaints from the citizens that Kenya power has literally been cutting down trees instead of trimming. They need to follow the laid down guidelines by KFS and avert an eventual crisis in future,” warned Dr. Muthoka.
By Patrick Nyakundi
