Eastleigh

Garbage menace: California Ward residents, county workers start monthly cleanup

Caption not available

By Abdirahman Khalif | Saturday, March 2, 2024

The cleanup, which ran from 9 am to 2 pm, marked the beginning of a monthly endeavour aimed at maintaining California's cleanliness.

Residents of California Ward, Kamukunji Constituency, gathered Saturday to clean up areas between General Wariungi and Marimbi streets as part of concerted efforts to foster environmental stewardship.

The initiative, spearheaded by MCA Hashim Kamau and Environment Officer Abdirizaq Ibrahim, saw active participation by both public officials and members of the community.

Keep reading

The cleanup, which ran from 9 am to 2 pm, marked the beginning of a monthly endeavour aimed at maintaining California's cleanliness.

Members of the public and Nairobi County's Green Army workers team up to clean parts of California Ward in Kamukunji Constituency on March 2, 2024. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

In an address to the participants, Kamau noted the importance of community engagement in preserving the local environment.

"Let's keep our ward clean. This is our home. It should be kept clean at all times," he said, urging residents to take ownership of their surroundings.

Ibrahim underscored the significance of collective action in achieving a cleaner environment.

"They say cleanliness is next to godliness. Let's strive to make our ward the cleanest in Kamukunji," he said.

Members of the public and Nairobi County's Green Army workers team up to clean parts of California Ward in Kamukunji Constituency on March 2, 2024. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

Cynthia Akinyi, a member of the Green Army established by the Nairobi County Government to tackle environmental challenges, regretted that not many residents take environmental issues seriously.

"We must all take responsibility and keep our surroundings clean," she said.

Organisers of the exercise said they plan to expand it to encourage participation by more people. Through public education, they aim to instil a sense of environmental consciousness, paving the way for sustained efforts in maintaining a clean and sustainable California Ward.

The cleanup holds particular significance for Eastleigh, a community long plagued by garbage issues, as it addresses immediate environmental concerns and fosters a culture of civic responsibility and community pride.

Kamukunji residents have in the past voiced growing concerns about the health hazards posed by the indiscriminate dumping of waste on roadsides and in front of residential buildings.

Last November, former MCA aspirant and community leader Anas Mohamed issued a fervent appeal to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, demanding immediate action to address the menace.

Anas decried the unacceptable practice of Nairobi County workers and contracted personnel collecting garbage from other areas only to dump it in Eastleigh.

Members of the public and Nairobi County's Green Army workers team up to clean parts of California Ward in Kamukunji Constituency on March 2, 2024. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

Nairobi County, whose population has been on the rise, has long had a garbage collection and management problem.

The Green Army is one of the strategies Governor Sakaja hopes will result in a turnaround.

Last year, the Green Army had 2,500 members, with about 100 assigned to each sub-county.