NGOs and residents launch campaign to save Diani Beach from plastic pollution

• The campaign was spearheaded by Samba Sports Youth Agenda
• Samba Sports CEO Mohammed Mwachausa said plastic pollution endangered marine life and tourism
  

  ACTIVATED: Olive Ridley officer Juma Gwerenya, Samba Sports Youth Agenda CEO Mohammed Mwachausa, County Tourism Executive Michael Mutua and Heri Kenya officer Juma Nasoro in a group photo at Diani Beach in Kwale County on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Image: SHABAN OMAR

Despite being named Africa’s leading beach destination seven times in a row, improper disposal of plastics, glass bottles and other waste remains Diani’s most serious threat.

The plastic waste sometimes denies the white sandy beach its recognition, with awards going to countries like South Africa and Zanzibar.

In a bid to save the vibrant Diani Beach, a group of Kwale residents partnered with youth empowerment and environment groups to launch a clean-up campaign themed “Rise Against Plastic Pollution; Diani Beach Zero Plastic Pollution”.

The campaign was spearheaded by Samba Sports Youth Agenda.

Hundreds of energetic youth, women and school children assembled at the historic Kongo mosque in Diani at the first sight of morning light to participate.

The group had volunteered to clean the three-kilometre stretch of the  renowned beach in a bid to protect it from pollution and maintain its dignity.

Armed with gloves, dustbins, sacks, and T-shirts bearing anti-pollution and conservation awareness messages, the group went about the exercise enthusiastically.

Traditional songs and dances spearheading environmental conservation reverberated, energising the crowd that had assembled for the occasion.

Samba Sports CEO Mohammed Mwachausa said plastic pollution endangered marine life and tourism.

Mwachausa said Unesco reported that approximately 11 million tonnes of waste are found in the world’s oceans, with plastics accounting for 85 per cent of the trashes.

He said despite the beach’s potential, increasing plastic waste impedes it from flourishing.

If affirmative action is not taken, pollution would triple and wreak havoc.

“After carbon emissions, the second threat is plastic, which is why we launched this initiative to help reverse the trend,” he said.

The cleaning exercise, for both land and ocean, will take place continuously, he added. Cleaning up the shores will prevent plastics and other dirt from reaching the beach.

Mwachausa said unlike other clean-up campaigns, this year’s event involved awareness sessions where residents were educated on environmental pollution, its dangers and waste management.

The programme also included planting trees and restoring degraded mangroves along the Diani beach.He said they targeted women, youth, and children because they play an important role in conservation.

Women are known for their role in imparting knowledge to children in society.

By taking this approach, young people will become more aware of the environment and ocean pollution while contributing to conservation efforts.

Mwachausa said they also recycle the waste into other items and assist the community in generating income through conservation.

They have partnered with Kwale Recycling Centre to transform various types of plastic into other products.

The centre’s director, Dexter Agesa, said they are looking forward to making bricks, roofing materials and poles using plastic waste.

“Apart from recycling plastics into other things, our vision is to use plastics to come up with construction materials,” he said.

Agesa said they realised that many organisations do excellent work in conservation but fail to properly dispose of the collected waste.

Many times, plastic waste ends up in the oceans and environment, sometimes becoming hazardous to humans due to improper disposal.

While cleaning up the environment is not a permanent solution to pollution, educating and engaging the public in addressing common challenges is critical to conservation.

Agesa said the partnership enhances efforts in identifying the problem and coming up with suitable solutions as a community.

Juma Nasoro, an officer at Health and Environmental Research Institute said there is need for partnership in addressing environmental pollution.

He said recent research indicates that plastic waste contributes to illnesses.

“Many people do not know that mosquitos that cause malaria and chikungunya breed in discarded plastic materials,” he said.

Other harm includes death of marine life, as most consume the plastics found in the sea.

The Heri Kenya researcher said they are collaborating with various stakeholders to spearhead environmental awareness campaigns and provide scientific knowledge for reducing pollution and improving conservation.

Juma Gwerenya, a project officer at Olive Ridley, said the clean-up intends to save sea turtles and promote conservation.

He said Diani Beach is home to many sea turtles and other marine life, but plastic and other pollutants have affected their population.

Gwerenya said sea turtles confuse plastics with Jellyfish and consuming these kills them.

Tourism county executive Michael Mutua said between 2019 to 2021, the beach lost its popularity and prestige because of pollution, with plastic waste being among the pollutants.

Because of this, the county is working with partners like Samba Sports to enhance conservation and tourism.

“We have joined forces with different organisations and residents to ensure our Diani beach develops more and continues to make us proud,” he said.

Mutua said the county is also constructing beach access roads and streetlights to open up Diani and enhance security.