Laikipia residents have been warned against polluting water sources in bid to prevent waterborne ailments.
Laikipia County Director-In-Charge of Environment, John Mukui, speaking to KNA over the weekend during Nanyuki River clean-up exercise urged residents to practice waste management.
“Environment is one of the alarming issues that create challenges to our community, so let’s all be careful on conservation and be wary of where we dump our wastes. Also, we should reduce waste at household level before thinking of recycling,” said Mukui.
Mukui said perennial drought situation in the county is due to climate change.
“I call on everyone to be watchful of the environment since what we are going through is due to climate change. We can only avert the situation if we plant trees and minimise water wastage,” added Mukui.
William Holdings Wildlife Foundation Education Centre Coordinator, Michael Ng’ang’a, said the aim of cleaning Nanyuki River was to ensure residents living downstream get clean water for domestic and livestock use.
“Whole idea behind cleaning the Nanyuki River is because this is the only river that passes through Nanyuki town and is used by many people downstream,” said Ng’ang’a.
During the exercise, huge chunks of cloth, nylon papers and plastics were removed from the river which Ng’ang’a said is due to increased human activities, for instance laundry and waste dumping.
Eric Mahugu representing Kenya Scout Association, said rivers are the heartbeat of Nature and at the same time urged youth to conserve the environment for the sake of future generations.
By Muturi Mwangi
