Counties to consider waste management

Kenyans are known for carelessness towards conserving the environment from necessary pollution.

 The National Environment Management Authority (Nema), which is charged with the responsibility of looking, conserving and protecting our environment has been sleeping on its job in most cases.

  The laws for environmental conservation are there but the institutions charged with the responsibility of implementing these laws have been reluctant.

The county governments should take waste management seriously and enforce the law as required. Citizens’ lives should be protected by the Government through creation of a clean protected environment.

 This is a neglected area, which the Government should focus on and if Nema can’t handle, then it means the staff charged with the responsibility should be held liable.  A lot of waste reaches our rivers, lakes and oceans. Not only does it directly kill millions of aquatic animals annually, but may also spread harmful algae and other invasive species.

Waste pollution costs governments, companies and individuals a lot of money in damages per year, due to loss in tourism, among other things.  The ultimate solution to waste pollution is clear; we need to end reliance on disposable plastic items and packaging. We need effective uncompromising Nema policy in place and to be aware of the problems our waste product is creating. It requires drastic changes on legislative, industrial and individual levels of society.

 Cheruiyot Baliach