Environmentalists have raised concerns over the state of some rivers in Machakos County, saying they are heavily polluted and pose health risks to residents.
Speaking during World Environment Day celebrations in Athi River, Mavoko Sub-county, on Friday, the environmentalists said food security was under threat due to the pollution of rivers in Machakos and neighbouring counties.
"Our concerns as a community is the pungent smell coming from the rivers, water ways and sewerage systems. There are many industries which discharge raw affluent into our rivers especially at night," Tuhifadhi Mchanga Initiative director Cynthia Mumo said.
More than 2,000 trees were planted during the event held at the Kenya Meat Commission grounds in Athi River Township.
Members of the public, including youth, women, students from various universities and schools, chiefs, village elders, Nyumba Kumi members, national and Machakos County government officials, and non-governmental organisation representatives attended the event and took part in the tree-planting exercise.
The trees were planted at KMC Primary and Junior School as well as at the Athi River Deputy County Commissioner's office.
"Our food security is at threat because these heavily polluted rivers are the same water sources for our agriculture and aquaculture," Mumo said.
Mumo said it was high time residents, governments, corporates and the entire Machakos community, especially residents of Athi River, rehabilitate and protect the polluted rivers before they get to a point of no return.
She said the organisation recognises the power of unity and works with other actors in the environmental conservation sector through periodic monitoring.
Mumo said the youth-led organisation also tackles food security and poverty alleviation through soil awareness, community clean-ups, waste segregation, planting of native trees and grasses, as well as environmental data demonstrations. They also conduct soil, air and water testing.
She said soil was left behind in most climate talks.
"We want to retaliate the importance of soil because it gives us lots of ecosystem services. Our soil can die, it's a call to action for everyone in the society to take action, see what we can do for 'this guy beneath our feet'," Mumo said.
Mumo said it was no longer about stories but a time to act.
"Let's take care of these trees. Let's not just plant," she said.
She urged Kenyans to also plant grasses to help conserve soil, saying grass helps prevent soil degradation through wind and water pollution.
"It takes us 1000 years to form one inch of top soil, and we can't replicate soil in our lifetime," Mumo said.
Athi River Chief Cecilia Nzioka said government officials were committed to helping achieve President William Ruto's ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2030.
Nzioka urged residents to plant and nurture more trees to help achieve the target.
"You see how climate change has affected our area. It is not just planting and abandoning trees, nurture them," Nzioka said.
She warned residents who keep livestock but fail to control them, saying they should ensure animals do not roam freely and destroy trees planted through such initiatives.
Nzioka said there was a major challenge of cattle and goats destroying planted trees in Athi River, making it difficult to achieve tree-planting goals.
She encouraged residents to consider planting fruit trees.
Nzioka called on schools within her location to establish environmental clubs to help nurture trees and conserve the environment.
She cautioned those who pollute rivers by discharging raw affluent.
"There is a lot of soil erosion and pollution of rivers. People discharge sewerage into River Athi. This has affected our food; vegetables planted in the area have lot's of iron and zinc and affect our bodies. So, we will take legal actions to those who discharge sewerage into our rivers," Nzioka said.
