Mombasa environment advisor Vipul Patel displaying a warning sign in an undesignated dump site in Mtopanga. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala]
Kenyan Ambassador to France Salma Ahmed has challenged the Mombasa County government to come up with a better waste management plan so as to restore the city’s lost glory.
Speaking during a youth empowerment forum in Mombasa on Saturday, Ahmed said it is important for the city to remain clean, as the heaps of garbage within the Central Business District were a nuisance to tourists.Ahmed said lack of environmental maintenance programmes in the county was putting off investors, which was in turn denying youth jobs.“If we scare away investors, where will we get the much needed jobs?” she asked.She said it was high time the county government engaged stakeholders to chat a way forward.“We are not blaming the county but challenging it. I represent Kenya in France, Portugal and Serbia and Mombasa is no longer a brand in these countries,” she said.She challenged Mombasa Governor-elect Hassan Joho to work closely with the national government and partner with international organisations to come up with a viable waste management plan.“We want to see a recycling plant in Mwakirunge up and running so that we can stop dumping waste in Mombasa. The Kibarani dumpsite should be relocated because it is the gateway to Mombasa and also interferes with marine life since it boarders the Indian Ocean,” she added.On his part, Mombasa environment advisor Vipul Patel said the county was already in talks with other stakeholders to ensure they came up with a long-term solution to the garbage menace.“Our officers are on the ground, working with other stakeholders in the environment sector to ensure that Mombasa remains clean,” he said.He noted that a fine of up to Sh100, 000 will be imposed on any organisation lacking proper solid waste management systems.Individuals found dumping waste in undesignated areas will be fined Sh5,000.