Stakeholders in the environment sector in Makueni County have been urged to come up with recuperative initiatives to tackle issues of nature and biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution and waste in the area.
Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Henry Wafula said that the triple crisis has ferociously affected the ecosystem, rendering the land less productive and impacted negatively on the population, resulting in small holder farmers becoming poorer.
“The reality on the ground is that lakes and rivers are shrinking, and our forests are vanishing. Our farms are turning into dustbowls and livelihoods destroyed,” said Wafula in a speech read on his behalf by Kibwezi East Deputy County Commissioner Paul Wanyonyi during the World Environment Day Celebrations held at Thange market, Kambu sub county, Makueni county.
“We need to restore our land to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation if we are going to safeguard the web of life on earth and avoid real consequences for ourselves like food shortage. There is therefore an urgent need to galvanize multi stakeholder efforts to address these critical issues because time is running out,” he added.
This year’s Theme was: “Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.” Consequently, the administrator emphasized the need to prioritize restoring ecosystems, replanting in forests, rewetting the marshes and reviving our soils in a bid to reverse the annihilation crisis gripping our planet.
He observed that governments, businesses, scientists, faith-based organizations, civil society and individuals all must join forces to fight climate change in the county and the country at large. On his part, Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr echoed the same sentiments saying that they have collaborated with individuals, communities, schools, businesses and organizations in various activities geared towards restoring our environment.
Mutula said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Executive Committee Member (ECM) for Lands, Urban Planning and Environment Mr. Nicolas Nzioka.
“We have had joint activities such as tree planting, clean-up drives, awareness campaigns, educational programs and public discussions that are aimed at cultivating mind-set change towards adoption of best restoration initiatives,” said Mutula.
He pointed out that his government has put in place legal frameworks to help in restoration like Makueni County Sand Conservation and Utilization Act, 2015, Makueni County Environment and Climate Change Policy, 2020, Makueni County Environment and Climate Change Act, 2022 and Makueni County Water Act, 2020 among others acts.
During the celebrations, the ECM warned residents that they risked prosecution if found cutting trees haphazardly and instead urged them to supplement government’s efforts in restoring the environment.