Siaya County government through its department for environment took an active role in celebrating World Environment Day at Bar-Ober market in Ugenya sub-County where Chief Officer Michael Obambo joined locals in a market clean up exercise in an effort to promote environmental sustainability.
Mr Obambo and Environment Director Gabriel Oduong’ took a hands-on approach to their mission of enhancing cleanliness by leading a two-hour cleaning exercise that improved hygiene of Bar-Ober market.
Students from Siaya National Polytechnic, East Ugenya Climate Change Committee members, women entrepreneurs from Bar-Ober also joined County environment officials in the clean up exercise.
The event, observed annually on June 5, whose theme is End Plastic Pollution, aims to raise awareness about environmental conservation, emphasizing the importance of fostering cleaner and healthier surroundings.
The day’s activities kicked off with a clean-up exercise at Modern Bar-Ober market. The primary objectives of the event included raising awareness among governments, and communities about local environmental challenges, with a particular focus on waste minimization, recycling, and effective waste management.
Addressing the team during the exercise, Mr Obambo emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness across the city.
“We must all work together to keep Siaya Markets and towns clean. This is not just about today but about creating a culture of cleanliness and pride in our County,” he said.
“This year’s World Environment Day focuses on ending plastic pollution. The plastic has been a menace world over, its not only ruining the environment but polluting our oceans,” added Obambo.
Obambo also revealed that plans are underway to encourage young people to engage in waste management.
“We want to encourage Siaya residents not to dispose of the plastics but to collect them once used. As a department of environment, we are working on strategies that will see some youths get support towards recycling the plastics,” he said.
Plastics are recycled and used to manufacture building materials, cabbros.
Proposed new measures at the national level drastically reduces the huge heaps of garbage disposed off at the gigantic Dandora dump-site.
The county seeks to adopt a circular model of waste management where waste will be segregated, with useful waste being retained.
The waste will then be collected and transported to a material recovery facility where it will be received, sorted and treated.
“High percentage of waste in Siaya is organic and if well composed, shall benefit market cleaners who own kitchen gardens or farms,”said Obambo.
Obambo further revealed that a robust plan is in place to build separators by the Trade department in all markets.
“We have groups in Ugunja and Bondo whom we shall support to help us manage the wastes. We have identified a group at Otonglo in Kisumu whom we shall work closely with to sort out the waste.”
On his part Mr. Oduong’ noted that their participation in the whole process was to show that it was the responsibility of everyone to ensure they lived in a clean environment irrespective of their status.
“Siaya residents will only maintain good health if their surroundings are clean,”said Oduong’.
“Nyalore administration is committed to tackling plastic waste with a vision that none of her packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or as litter,”said Oduong’.
The exercise ended at Ralak Primary school where hundreds of trees were planted.
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