The world environment day was marked on Thursday at Marsabit full primary school, in Marsabit County with a stern warning from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to traders over continued use of the banned plastic carrier bags.
The annual event in which protection and conservation of the environment was emphasized was preceded with a tree planting exercise at the school and collection of garbage in Marsabit town by wananchi, government workers and organizations involved in resilience programs.
The county director of environment Naftaly Osoro observed that Marsabit has had its own share of negative effects of climate change including floods, excessive soil erosion, and long drought periods with devastating results where communities have lost their livelihoods.
Mr Osoro pointed out that smuggling of plastic carrier bags from a neighbouring country continues to be a threat to the environment and human health adding that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) was working closely with the national police service to eradicate the menace.
The Director cautioned traders who include retailers, butchers, grocers, miraa and muguka sellers against dodging compliance as those caught will have only themselves to blame.
Mr Osoro noted that the plastic bags contribute to the pollution of the environment while packaging of cooked food in the outlawed carrier bags was injuries to the health of consumers hence the need to eradicate the problem for healthy living.
The director also asked the county government to enhance the collection of solid waste which was currently erratic in urban centers and especially Marsabit and Moyale municipalities.
Mr Osoro said much of the forest cover had been lost over the years in the arid and semi-arid county and that there was a need to scale up mitigating measures.
“It is important for actors to focus more on revitalizing the degraded resources especially arable land, woodlands and water sources in order to stem desertification and enhance climate adaptation among local communities” he said.
NEMA is currently rehabilitating wetlands within Kalacha and North Horr where restoration of the water sources has been hailed by local residents who are now accessing clean and adequate water for both domestic and livestock use.
Speaking at the function, administration officer at the county commissioner’s office Festus Chepkwony underlined that climate change could negate gains made over time and especially in food security.
Mr Chepkwony rooted for use of green energy like liquefied gas and electricity in order to ease pressure on forests for firewood and charcoal.
The administrator urged for enhanced tree growing saying it was the most decisive way to combat climate change.
By Sebastian Miriti
