Call to end plastic pollution as Kisumu marks world Environmental Day

Kisumu, Tuesday, June 6, 2023

by Edwin KNA by Odhiambo/Movine Achieng’

Kisumu residents have been urged to join the fight against plastic waste pollution as the bags have led to environmental and health problems.

This was said during the World Environmental Day under the theme ’Beat Plastic Pollution’.

In 2022, Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, launched the Greening Initiative to combat the effects of Climate Change that has greatly affected the lakeside city.

In the plan, a target of three million trees was to be planted by 2027 to increase the area under forest cover.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has cited that plastic waste has been a menace even in forest areas, coupled with the adverse effects of Climate Change. In its commitment to reducing the effects of Climate Change, the KFS has distributed between 300 and 500 tree seedlings to schools, to engage in planting. The country currently has about 12 percent forest cover.

According to National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya banned the usage of plastics in 2017 but the same still poses a threat to the environment as regulation of circulation of plastic bags is still to be achieved.

NEMA continues to enforce laws that ensure the use of plastics goes down through recycling, to prevent them from getting into the environment which would further degenerate the environment and curtail efforts of conservation.

The County Executive Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism, Industry and Marketing, Farida Salim, while reading a speech on behalf of her counterpart In-Charge of Water and Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Maryline Agwa, reiterated the County's commitment to environmental conservation.

Salim highlighted that the Tourism Industry is tasked with the responsibility of marketing the City, a situation that requires the participation of all.

"There can be no marketing the City without marketing the Lake. I make an appeal to all the partners here, to ensure we protect and conserve the lake. If we can challenge ourselves individually, I think together we will make a very big difference,” she said.

She further highlighted the bad image that diapers’ inappropriate disposal has on the environment, citing that it contravenes the Kisumu My Pride slogan. “Pampers use is a serious pollutant and eyesore to our water bodies,” she said. She called upon the relevant authorities to act on the effective disposal of the same.

The CECM recalled one of the things that awed Reggae Artist, Richie Spice, during his visit to the lakeside City was that it was a very clean City.

Further, she launched the M-Taka App, a web platform meant to educate and inform the public on waste management.

Courtesy ; K. N. A