Kalokol, 26 June 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Residents of Kalokol Ward, Turkana Central, have benefited from a one-day sensitization by a joint team of the County Government and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on the dangers of environmental degradation.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of Environment, the Principal Environment Officer, Jacob Mutua, emphasised the need for holistic efforts to combat the escalating challenge of environmental degradation in the area.

The officer indicated Kalokol environs were displaying noticeable evidence of air pollution and overstretched dumping sites in the town centre.

According to the officer, the twin challenge of smoke and indiscriminate dumping was a threat to the area’s environment and the entire aquatic ecosystem that supports the economic livelihoods of thousands in Turkana.

Mutua advocated for the adoption of waste reduction strategies at the personal and household level as a starting point.

NEMA officer Francis Emanikor called for the utilisation of the fish processing area at Naparpari instead of the current situation where fish is processed at undesignated sites, making it difficult to control smoke production.

In a bid to safeguard Kalokol from further environmental degradation, the county has in the past held clean-up exercises, sensitization of partners, and even more stringent measures like restraint orders.