By Daniel Kipchumba.
Nairobi, Kenya: A 40-year-old journalist/environmental activist held his 40th birthday party at Gioto dumpsite in Nakuru County. Together with the waste collectors he celebrated his special day by appreciating the role they play.
Wakibia noted that it was a way of recognizing the efforts and the role of waste pickers in getting rid of plastic material from the environment. “These are the people that need to be embraced when it comes to the issue of circular economy, the world is discussing recycling waste which is a big menace in the environment, and to do that we need to bring waste pickers on the table and involve them in the issue of fighting plastic pollution because they are the people who make it happen”. He said.
On their part, the waste pickers appreciated his decision to share such a significant occasion in life with them, when he had a leeway to hold it elsewhere. ‘We are very grateful that you have decided to come and celebrate with us, we have never had anyone do this, it’s one of a kind and from now you are our friend’. Said one of the waste pickers in his dusty overall attire.
Wakibia has been championing a ban on single-use plastic since his campus days at Egerton University. He once held a protest in 2017 with other like-minded colleagues from Gioto to the Nakuru county assembly where they presented their petition agitating for relocation of the dumpsite terming it an eyesore.
His efforts though with threats over his life and family, have seen significant success because today Gioto dumpsite has been partly rehabilitated though not to his satisfaction. “It’s a little bit better than it was before, though a lot still needs to be done, the people living around suffer from billowing smoke coming from the dumpsite to the road making visibility poor for drivers”. He says.
His activism coincide with a ban on single-use plastic carrier bags which has been in place in Kenya for slightly over five years now and has led to a cleaner environment, as plastic bags were clogging drains, filling dumpsites, and endangering the lives of livestock that consumed them.
