Solid waste management in Elgeyo Marakwet County is posing a serious threat to the ecosystem
According to Deputy Governor Prof Grace Cheserek, the rising number of solid is posing health hazards to the community.
The Deputy Governor said 15 tonnes of solid waste were disposed to the open daily, thereby causing environmental hazards.
She lamented that despite the glaring statistics, little has been done to curb rising cases of solid waste mismanagement.
Prof. Cheserek called for an urgent intervention on improved plastic waste management to safeguard both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
She urged the residents to be innovative and come up with measures that can combat plastic pollution and how to make money out of waste.
“Let’s work together to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic material around our surroundings. By making small changes in our daily lives, we can make a big difference. Waste is a resource, let’s maximize its use,” she said.
A similar call was also echoed by CEC water, environment, and climate change Jason Lagat who said the department was working on frameworks that will guide partners on areas to invest in order to reduce disposal of wastes to environment.
He said: “We are engaging partners and finding better fields where they can invest so that we reuse the waste in the long run.”
Elgeyo Marakwet county has planted over 800,000 trees as part of commitment towards planting 60,000,000 in the next 5 years.