An NGO, Rural to Global Organisation, recently organised cleanup activities in Kakamega town to create awareness among residents to maintain cleanliness.
Programme manager Catherine Osita said they are working with girls to champion environmental cleanliness by planting trees and taking care of rivers, among other activities, to mark World Cleanup Day 2022.
She said since girls are among those affected by climate change, the organisation through its theme ‘Let us do it together’ is engaging them to protect the environment for themselves and other people.
“We have made steps to ensure we maintain cleanliness in the town. We shall work closely with the county government in taking care of the environment by engaging them on how they can be involved in ensuring the county remains clean,” she said.
A Young Environmental Champion, Linet Kamadi, urged the Kakamega government to embrace environmental action as a key policy issue.
The cleanup activities brought together Rural to Global Organisation, Life-straw, St John's Ambulance, Paint a Smile and officials from the county Department of Environment.
Hudson Kisanga, manager in charge of cleaning services under Western Cross Company Limited in Kakamega town, said they have put in place measures to ensure the town remains clean at all times.
He said they collect 210 tonnes of waste from Kakamega town daily, which they dump at the Rostaman dumpsite some six kilometres away.
He said they collect a lot of waste from the four main markets in Kakamega town, especially on Saturday and Tuesday when traders receive goods from different places.
Kisanga urged residents to stop the illegal dumping of waste and instead make use of dustbins.
Waste from Kakamega town is dumped at a receptacle or a holding centre at Kakamega bus park.
The waste stays there for a maximum of eight hours before it is collected by skip bins to be transported to the Rostaman dumpsite.
Traders operating at the bus park have, however, complained that the county government delays in collecting the waste from the holding centre, hence, posing a risk to their health.
Christopher Kanga urged the county to relocate the holding centre.
He said they have complained for long but the concerned authorities have not taken any steps to address the situation.
Kanga said a stench emanates from the site due to the accumulation of waste and stagnant water.
-Edited by SKanyara
