Preamble

First and foremost, I am a citizen of a third world country in the continent of Africa. This is a continent of enormous challenges in many aspects of life. Majority of people in this part of the world live on less than a dollar a day and so wallow in abject poverty. In such circumstances, few things make much sense in the ear of individuals whose greatest challenge is how to put a meal on their families? table by the end of a long day.

In Kenya, which happens to be my country, environmental awareness is yet to make a significant sense in the cognitive impression of many. Just as is the case in the rest of Africa, the economic challenges here have overrun any meaningful recognition of environmental degradation. The country has diverse geographical features with rich natural resources besides the fairly predictable weather and rainfall pattern. It is a country with vast agriculturally fertile land ranging from the coastal lowlands of Mombasa, the plains of the Great Rift Valley, the green highlands of Mount Kenya to the black cotton soils of the Lake Victoria region.

One would obviously notice a strange disconnect in this brief background of the developing country called Kenya. The very first question that begs from the onset of this text is, ?Why should such a country endowed with such preciousness be so poor to an extent that majority of its citizens would actually live below poverty line?? Yes! The answers to such questions as this are just as disturbing as the questions themselves. One may obviously detect the absence of political goodwill in such circumstances as these. To be very honest with myself, I do admit that this is actually the problem. 

Environmental Challenges in Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. This city was at one time in the history of our country referred to as the Green City of the Sun. This was as a result of great care that our people had accorded the environs of this great city. I rightfully said, it was at one time. Today we are in a completely different scenario with a completely different political dispensation. Although there has always been a government ministry charged with environmental affairs, much impact is yet to be realized from the holders of this docket.

As I mentioned in the preamble, Nairobi is endowed with unique natural resources complementing the greatness of our natural environment. Once again, this is one of the world cities that has a national part right within it, a river and a beautiful man made dam. These are indeed unique happenings by all standards. If only our people were able to see Nairobi in my perspective, we would not be addressing such basic issues as improper disposal of wastes, polluting of the Nairobi River, littering of the Nairobi National Park and garbage dumping into the Nairobi Dam among other things. Allow me to take you through each of the components of environmental abuse in Nairobi as they stand today. 

1. The Nairobi River

Nairobi River, unlike other rivers in the region, is not just a seasonal spring, but a significant water body running right through the city of Nairobi. Tracing this river from its source around the Ngong Hills, one experiences its magnificence and the freshness of its waters. Unfortunately, as it snakes its way down hills through what used t be the Green City in the Sun, this state of affairs change dramatically. First it is the wastes from the Dagoretty Slaughter House, then the huge raw sewage from the Kibera slums before it receives the final dosage wastes courtesy of the Nairobi?s Industrial Area. By the time this river completes its meanders through the city of Nairobi, it is difficult to tell whether it still conforms to he definition f a river or should be renamed in line with the ingredients of its composition.    

1.1.  Action

All these said and done, it is important that I share with you some of the things that I, together with the like minded friends, have done or plan to do in order to salvage this river from further dilapidation.

With members of my school environment club, we have for many occasions chose to conduct clean up exercises of certain sections of this river. The clean ups may not be of considerable significance owing to the extent of pollution that this river continues o experience. However, it is our belief that the posters we wave at the passers-by during such exercises and those we erect along the river banks, will one day have far reaching effects of the people who live along this river.

It is our desire that the Kenyan government will also live up to its pledge of making the waters of the Nairobi River clean enough for people to swim in. This is what the minister for the newly created ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan in collaboration with his environment counterpart has pledged. Besides these broad based approaches, I in my small way, continue to sensitize my peers to shun all manners of pollution.

This ranges from continuously urging my school mates to avoid carrying to school crackles, crisps etc in their wrappers since they will most likely dispose such packets inappropriately. In my view, these wrappers, if brought to school, would most likely fly off the dustbins or end up on the ground and probably in the little spring next to our compound. This, though subtly, are the contributing factors of the dilapidated Nairobi river.

2.        The Nairobi Dam

Looking at what is now left of what used to be the Nairobi Dam, one finds an irreconcilable act of human negligence and severe lack of responsibility. Fro what used to be the weekend destination of many city dwellers for water sports and the facilities courtesy of a yacht club, today the remains of this dam can be mistaken for a well maintained rugby pitch, thanks to the water hyacinth that found its way into the dam and further mannured by the reckless disposal of wastes from the sprawling Kibera Slums and the Nyayo Highrise Settlements.

2.2. Action

My environment club has already discovered that the water hyacinth weed can be used in the weaving industry. It is our belief that articles that we continue to put in our annual magazine will one day appeal to an organization that would finally find something useful to do with the hyacinth menace.

Number two, by our continuous campaign against pollution of all kinds, we hope that one day, if not from he old generation then ours, the reckless pollution and wanton destruction of our natural environment would be shunned by all.

3.        The Nairobi National Park

How many cities of the world can brag of housing a national park almost right within its central business district? Obviously not many. Well Nairobi boasts of being one of the very few such cities. The Nairobi National Park, together with its sister conservation agent, the Nairobi Orphanage, are home to some of the world?s rarest wildlife.

Unfortunately, this precious facility is being affected by plenty of human interference.

First of all it is the human encroachment into the park thereby blocking the animal corridors which are very useful during their migrations at specific times of the year. Secondly it is the poaching menace due to poverty and inadequate awareness by the surrounding communities.

Another serious form of threat that the national park faces, is pollution of its adjacent land and that of the springs and small water bodies that flow through it. All these have posed serious threats to the wildlife within the park.

3.1. Action

It would be great to start by admitting that these are serious and enormous environmental challenges whose remedies may not lie within the rich and rehabilitation of young people such as me, but with the adult leadership of our country. However, we too can and have been doing something. Response from my school : For the first time, my school  prefect body which i am part of organised a tree planting event which involved the whole school. These were a rough total of 300 students. It was very successful and motivating!

Remember, the future the planet is held in our hands, to save or destroy or to plan as we can. Our little actions may not be all that there is. Let us all join together and unite to care for our mother earth.