Intravenous drug abuse has become a health and environmental hazard in coast beaches, a lobby group has said.
Greenpeace Africa said many used syringes, syringe needles and cannulas found is clear evidence of needle fixation on the beaches.
Needle fixation is when people become addicted not only to the drug, but also to the ritual of drawing their drug up into a needle and injecting it.
Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, prescription stimulants and prescription opioids can be injected into the bloodstream through a vein.
“We have picked a lot of syringes, syringe needles and cannulas during the clean-up exercise. This means outside the environmental concern, there is also a drugs concern that is still evident here in Mombasa," said Greenpeace Africa communications manager Sherie Gakii.
“That is why we say the environment question is not for a single sector. It cuts across. All sectors are tied in.”
She spoke at the Nyali Beach during a clean-up exercise to commemorate the World Oceans Day.
“We know Mombasa has banned muguka but we still see a big problem of drugs at the beach despite many children playing football here," Gakii said.
“Imagine if any one of them got pricked by a syringe needle. That is why we say this environmental responsibility is for everyone.”
She said there is need for sensitisation on plastics and the dangers they pose not only in the ocean and marine life, but also to people.
Gakii said most syringes are obtained from government hospitals and health facilities.
“We cannot blame private companies that use plastic bottles and leave out the government out. The government has the responsibility to ensure their products are not in the wrong hands or places,” she said.
Greenpeace Africa brand audit of pollutants at the Nyali beach discovered plastic packaging of local and international brands at the sea shores.
“The audit was to ensure we hold them responsible. Most of the time it has been blame game. But we want Kenyans to know which brands are polluting the environment,” said Alfred Abuka, a volunteer.
Coincidentally, some 100 turtle eggs hatched on Saturday and the hatchlings found their way into the see.
“We are grateful but also we are scared of the number of plastics we have collected here today,” Abuka said.
About a tonne of plastic waste was collected within an hour at the public beach on Saturday.
“We need to hold these people accountable and see how best they can come up with eco-friendly wrappers and bottles to ensure we have a sustainable ecosystem,” Abuka said.
Many plastic-producing companies have been hiding behind recycling and are not cutting down on production of plastics.
Plastics do not decay. They are only broken down into micro-plastics which are ingested by sea creatures including fish, who are then eaten by humans.
The micro-plastics in the sea affect humans in the long run.
Plastics not only choke fish and other sea creatures but also mangrove trees, which are dying at an alarming rate.
They are made from petroleum, meaning they have adverse effects when it comes mangroves and other sea weeds.
Abuka said Kenya is very good at coming up with policies but not implementing them.
The laws drafted to protect marine life from plastic pollution have become a defense mechanism for the drafters, he said.
“The key question is what they doing to ensure these laws are implemented? How many companies have been prosecuted for polluting the environment through their plastic products?” Abuka asked.
Gakii warned against turning Kenyan beaches and the ocean into dumping grounds for plastics.
“We want the big plastic-producing firms to be held accountable and commit to sustainable practices,” she said.
The environmentalist said they are taking the fight to the big brands.
“The fight is not bottom-up, we are doing a top-down fight,” she said.
