As the world commemorated the World Clean Up day 2023, environmental stakeholders have called on Kenyans to devise innovative ways of waste management amid increasing population.
The day is celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September annually.
Speaking in Nanyuki, Laikipia County Saturday where this year’s world cleanup day national celebrations were held, Environment, Climate change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya in a speech read on her behalf by the Ministry’s administrative Secretary John Elungata, lamented massive solid wastes across the country due to a corresponding increase in population, leading to environmental pollution.
Tuya said this year’s theme of the crucial day, Think Be4 You Trash It, resonated well with the importance of recycling waste targeting to save the ecosystem.
The theme emphasizes the need for saving the earth by reusing and recycling waste, which is a responsibility of public entities, county governments, private sector and individuals to ensure what is generated is collected and trashed in accordance with the environmental laws, she added.
The CS decried that dumping and burning of waste was common in low urban areas of Kenya, which provided an opportunity to develop income generating activities.
Tuya encouraged stakeholders to embrace integrated and sustainable waste management, aimed at protecting the environment and people.
The CS said that it was a duty of government and non-government players to ensure proper disposal of waste according to the existing environmental laws.
Tuya said that the outcome of the recent African climate summit 2023 declaration was for the African countries to develop and implement policies, regulations and incentives aimed at attracting regional, local and global investment green growth including a circular economy.
Laikipia county Executive for Water and Environment Leah Njeri said that World Clean Up day was an annual event that aimed at combating solid waste.
Njeri said that there were emerging environmental crises due to the increase of human activities that had led to environmental pollution, which called for urgent action to reverse the situation.
The county executive said that the country’s population continues to grow, which has led to an increase of consumption patterns, translating into high solid waste disposal, which posed a great threat to the ecosystem.
She said this year’s theme, “Think B4 You Trash it,” was a call to action on sustainable waste management aimed at salvaging the ecosystem for the future generations.
Njeri said that the county had started mapping businesses that recycle waste to equip them with skills on how to turn waste into wealth.
She further pointed out that the county was financing such ventures from the county development fund kit, since recycling created employment opportunities for youth.
On his part, Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Muli called on residents to partner with the government in bid to keep the environment clean.
By Muturi Mwangi
