The Spouse of the Deputy President, Dr. Joyce Kithure, has called upon Kenyans to join the government’s environmental efforts by combating environmental degradation in their neighbourhoods.
Speaking in Dandora, where she spearheaded a clean-up exercise, Dr. Kithure maintained that a clean environment is a key driver of sustainable economic growth and development, as espoused by President Ruto’s administration.
Noting that the government cannot achieve its environmental conservation goals on its own, Dr Kithure who is also the founder of the Science Adding Value to the Environment and the Communities Initiative (SaVE) called for heightened collaboration between all stakeholders.
The SaVE initiative, she said, is founded on the belief that practical solutions, innovation, and community action can transform our environment and improve the quality of life for our people by adding value to the environment and communities.
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“Today’s activity reflects one of the key pillars of this initiative: protecting our environment and safeguarding the health of our communities,” said Dr. Kithure. “ Environmental pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is also a public health concern that affects families, children, and the future of our nation,” she said.
During the exercise, uncollected garbage was removed from drainage systems, unblocking drainage systems and ensuring uncollected garbage is removed.
“Dandora, like many other areas in our capital city, has faced serious challenges related to waste management,” Dr. Kithure, a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi, stated.
“Uncollected garbage, blocked drainage systems, and poor waste disposal practices have contributed to environmental degradation. When waste accumulates in our neighbourhoods and drainage channels, it blocks the flow of water and leads to flooding during the rainy seasons,” she affirmed.
She said poor sanitation exposes communities to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne infections, adding that children are more vulnerable. “As leaders and citizens, we have a duty to protect their health and their future,” she observed.
“That is why we are here today, not only to clean our surroundings but also to send a powerful message that a clean environment begins with each one of us. Nairobi is our capital city, and its cleanliness reflects who we are as a nation,” Dr. Kithure pointed out.
The government alone cannot achieve this goal without the participation of the people, as we clean our houses every day, we must also extend that same responsibility to the spaces outside our homes, she said.
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“That is, in the streets, drainage channels, markets and public spaces where we live and work! A clean Nairobi will not come from policy alone; it will come from the collective effort of its citizens,” she added.
The clean-up exercise, she said, is part of a broader plan that stretches across the capital, stretching across informal settlements such as Kawangware, Mathare, Kibra, Korogocho, Mukuru, and the Central Business District of Nairobi.
“Every neighbourhood matters, and every community deserves a clean and healthy environment,” she said, urging Kenyans to adopt environmental conservation efforts through clean-ups and proper disposal of waste.
“But cleaning alone is not enough! We must also change our habits! Let us avoid throwing plastics and garbage into drainage systems. Let us educate our children about protecting the environment,” she added.
She also heaped praise on youth groups, community leaders and volunteers for their dedication during the exercise in Dandora. “Your participation demonstrates that when citizens come together with a shared purpose, meaningful change is possible,” she pointed out.
