- Justice Stephen Githinji appealed to all residents of Malindi to join the Nyumba Kumi initiative of clean-ups, so as to make the town, beaches, estates, and trading centers clean.
- The judge also advised the companies making chewing gums to use bio-friendly wrappers instead of plastics.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Miraa and muguka users have been accused of littering beaches in Malindi.
Since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, over 40 stakeholders from the hotel, beach operators, police, prisons and others under the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi have been conducting monthly clean-up exercises.
This month, Pwam got the support of the Judiciary and Jambojet Airline in the clean-up.
Malindi High Court judge Stephen Githinji together with Jambojet managing director Karanja Ndegwa joined the stakeholders in cleaning the areas around Coco beach and the Malindi Marine Park.
During the clean-up, the stakeholders found out that the miraa and muguka users carelessly dumped plastic bottles and chewing gus wrappers, which are a threat to marine life and environment.
Githinji said they found a lot of plastic litter at the beach, which is left behind by miraa and muguka users.
“My experience today is that we are not responsible. We managed to collect a lot of plastic and chewing gum wrappers, a clear indication that those who were here were chewing Khat. We have to make our people be responsible,” he said.
Githinji appealed to all residents to join the Nyumba kumi initiative of clean-ups to make the town and beaches clean.
"Those consuming miraa are the greatest culprits, if we are able to manage our wastes I think we can keep our environment better," he said.
The judge also advised companies making chewing gums to use bio-friendly wrappers instead of plastics.
He said the business people owning properties like hotels in front of the beaches can also make sure their areas are clean.
The Jambo Jet CEO said as an airline company that flies over 60,000 passengers to Malindi annually, they felt it is better to give back to the community by supporting clean-ups.
He said it was impressive that they managed to collect 169kgs of waste along the beach.
"Ours is to ask the people who are walking along the beach to keep it clean because it attracts visitors. Visitors don't want to come here and see waste dumped all over," he said.
Ndegwa said they will continue to strengthen and support the organisers of the clean-up so that they do not feel like they are walking alone.
Katana Kahindi, a tour guide at the Silver Sand area, said they were happy to be part of the cleanup as it was a clear indication that the sector is recovering and more tourists will come.
He said when the beach is clean, it attracts tourists who in turn give them job opportunities and ask their friends to visit the resort town.
The tour guide said those chewing miraa at the beach are known, but called on the authorities or those making chewing gums to install waste bins.
"Getting dust bins will ensure visitor have a place to throw their waste," he said.
Joseph Wairimu from Mathare Youth Film Festival said they joined the beach clean-up and shall also be planting mangroves in Sabaki.
He said they learned lessons from the exercise and will take it home to ensure rivers and lakes are clean as poor waste management contributes to environmental disasters.
Currently, he said they were doing a documentary in Malindi that focuses on climate change and climate action and justice.
The Malindi clean-up began over two years ago and has been successful as organisations team up under Pwam to ensure each month people come out to clean.
Previously, people used to come together to participate, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they came up with the Nyumba-Kumi initiative which has made it bigger as the exercise covers a wider area.
-Edited by SKanyara