Shirley Wandera (Tuesday, 6/6/2023)
In a remarkable display of dedication to environmental consciousness, residents of Mombasa on Monday commemorated World Environment Day with a vibrant procession held in Makupa.
The event was graced by Mombasa Deputy Governor, Francis Thoya, who took note of the youth being on the frontline of the conservation movement, actively engaging in efforts to protect their surroundings.
“There is a great need to take care of our environment and I am grateful that a majority of those who have come here today are the youth. I would like to see young people be at the forefront of environmental conservation,” said Thoya
With this year’s theme centered around finding solutions to plastic pollution, Mr. Francis Thoya encouraged the youth to continue leading the way in safeguarding the environment.
Mombasa youth in a procession to commemorate World Environment Day
To make the environment clean, the Deputy Governor declared that starting July 2023, the County Government will designate the second day of every month as a dedicated clean-up day in all 30 wards across the county.
“Beginning July this year, every second day of the month will be a clean-up day in Mombasa. This is the only way; we must get the whole community involved in the clean-up exercise to clean our environment. This will help them understand the meaning of environmental conservation,” he said.
Thoya highlighted the necessity for behavioral change amongst residents. He mentioned that the County Government has taken steps to address garbage disposal by deploying garbage trucks, however, residents have not been compliant. He further lamented that even stringent laws fail to bring about a change in people’s behavior.
“Despite the administration’s relentless efforts within a limited timeframe to tackle the garbage issue, the behavioral patterns of the residents in Mombasa remain unchanged. There is a need for sensitization and we want the community to be at the center of managing waste” Thoya added.
Addressing Mombasa residents at Moroto in Makupa, the Deputy Governor also warned residents who have unlawfully occupied a portion of the oceanfront in the Moroto area of Tudor. Urging them to take immediate action and vacate the area to avoid the dangers of rising water levels.