By Njambi Gakaho
The Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) is
supporting Water Resource Management Authority, National Environmental
Management Authority (NEMA) and Nyahururu Water Users Association in putting up
billboards in common dumping areas of Nyahururu to warn residents that they
risk being prosecuted if found dumping in undesignated dumping sites.
The main aim of this initiative is to
ensure that garbage dumping in residential areas of Nyahururu decreases.
Nyahururu area has continued to
receive heavy rain fall in the past few weeks. The heavy rainfall has led to
flooding in some areas and a lot of run-off. The flowing water carries so
much garbage, some of which end up in the rivers particularly Gathaara river.
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| Sign post warning people against dumping waste |
Most of the garbage is basically
plastic bags which have become synonymous with Kenyan waste. Since the debate
on banning low gauge plastic bags always create a negative reaction, the key
question is, how will Kenyans free their environment from plastic waste?
Most of the plastic bags are issued
for free to customers in supermarkets, shops and other consumer outlets. Some
environmentalists are currently of the opinion that putting a price on plastic
bags could encourage shoppers to recycle them.
While some residential areas like
Co-site estate have many open dump sites, the erected billboard in the area is
expected to ensure that the residents will dump cautiously and in the long run the
residential areas are bound to improve into better and clean environment.
It is clear that there is need for a
plastic bag management policy. This would help in ensuring that plastic bag
waste is minimized in the environment. Meanwhile, residents of Nyahururu
town should continuously be sensitized against dumping of garbage as improper
garbage disposal can lead to health and environmental problems.
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