Malindi Dumpsite Relocation Plans In Top Gear
The Kilifi County government has announced plans to relocate the Malindi dumpsite from its current place to a new location in Magarini.
This is in a bid to keep the town, which is a favourite of international tourists, free from the garbage menace.
There has been an outcry from stakeholders and conservationists who were demanding it to be relocated from its current position in the posh Casuarina area to another place as it was close to the marine park and residential areas.
Kilifi County Executive Member for Environment Omar Said revealed that currently they were in the process of identifying the exact location which will be fit for a new dumpsite.
Speaking during the Monthly clean-up organized by the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM) he said the new Dumpsite will not only act as a centre for dumping waste but as a recycling centre which will also create job opportunities for the youth.
“I would like to urge Members of the Public to give them time to complete the process so as to relocate the main dumpsite which is in the Mayungu area,” he said.
Consequently, the CEC cautioned residents living in Malindi against dumping waste in illegal ‘dumpsites’ as they harmed the environment.
He said the County has specific holding dumping areas put up by the authorities that are cleared periodically but it had come to their attention that people were littering waste carelessly which was unhealthy.
In the next financial year, he said the county will buy wheel loaders to help them put waste in the specific holding grounds instead of dumping them in the open.
He said they use the monthly clean-up exercise which is organized by PWAM and brings together stakeholders including Police, KWS, the Business community, schools, and county government officials to sensitize the community on the importance of keeping their environment clean.
“Statistics of research done revealed that whatever amount of waste that we handle at the County Government level is just around six per cent, this means that a bigger percentage is handled by the common Mwananchi so there is a need for them to understand that this is a collective responsibility,” he said.
Kirimi Mbaka the Malindi Marine Park KWS Senior Warden said as an institution they normally embrace partnerships and work with stakeholders and the communities living with the wildlife.
“We are very happy to collect garbage in fact it’s an exercise when you bend to collect the garbage and as you can see, we have our young stars here these are the leaders of tomorrow and will ensure the environment is clean and safe,” he said.
He also emphasized to the members of the public to ensure they collect garbage within their areas so as to live in a clean and healthy environment.
Malindi Officer Commanding Station Joseph Okuna said as security agents in charge of investigations they also normally move out to join with the community so as to reduce the gap between them and the people and build trust.
“Our youth have always been told that the police may not be very friendly but today when they see us mingle freely picking litter with them, they feel these are the normal persons we need to interact with,” he said.
About The Author
