Why the environment needs your efforts !

According to the Green Belt Movement, over 24 million plastic bags are used monthly in Kenya, half of which end up in the solid waste mainstream and into Kenyan water bodies. Imagine that kind of number in the oceans, monthly ! Plastics have been the major non-biodegradable waste materials present in Kenyan oceans and rivers. These wastes have posed a colossal threat to the government and to the locals concerning their management 

Plastic pollution in the Indian Ocean, for example, has a direct deadly effect to the sealife which habitate in it. Thousands of seafish and other marine mammals are killed after ingestion of plastic bags and cans found in the Indian Ocean. Some get tangled between the plastic bags and thus suffocate and die. Afterwards many of this fish are seen afloat on water. 

Plastic pollution have degraded and corroded our water bodies. The once beautiful rivers which were tourist attractions are now filled with heap upon heaps of plastic waste. River Yala, in my hometown Kakamega is a good example. In 2010, it was a fine haven for recreation but now in 2021,  it’s beauty is gone, all  because of the many plastic bags which waft over its surface. At this rate, it’s existence may cease.

Organisational conferences such as The Sustainable Blue Economy Conferences have however been at the frontline to help fight plastic and non-biodegradable waste pollution in Kenya’s water ecosystems. The mantle should not be left on them only. The national government should knuckle down with counties which host water ecosystems and come together to fight the common enemy, plastic pollution. The government should also institute a national day to champion against all forms of environmental pollution in the country.

In order to win the fight against pollution, all Kenyan citizens must come out and participate in environmental conservation. By doing this we shall overcome the huge fear posed to us by the gross pollution in our water ecosystems.

Image credits

PxFuel: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/search?q=plastic+bottles

Wikimedia Foundation: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:YalaRiver.JPG