UNEP, Four Rotary Clubs Team Up to Clean Up Athi River, Plant Trees

By President Eric Ombok

The Rotary Clubs of Syokimau, Kitengela, Athi River and Stoni Athi on September 18 embarked on a project dubbed Adopt a River, to remove all solid waste along the water body.

The four Rotary clubs conducted a waste assessment covering a stretch of at least 1.5 kilometres along Athi River before embarking on the first phase which is focussed on removing solid waste from the water body, installing traps at points where storm water carrying solid waste get into the rivers and planting trees along the river to reduce surface erosion.

Laboratory testing of water in the river was also undertaken before the project began and will be repeated after completion, to determine the levels of contamination and to check whether the solutions provide are effective. The clubs are collaborating with members of the community to provide labour for removal of the solid waste daily until the exercise is completed.

To reduce solid waste disposal into Athi River, the next phase will include providing recycling bins in partnership with waste collection service providers. Industries releasing their effluent to the river through various channels will also be brought on board as part of efforts to improve up-stream biological treatment of industrial waste.

Following the signing of an agreement between the United Nations Development Programme and Rotary District 9212 — which covers Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Eritrea — the Adopt a River project involves other Rotary clubs across the region cleaning different rivers, with financing from the UN agency. The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce water crisis through focused activities on freshwater ecosystems at a local level.

The initiative provides a vehicle for engagement and action by community members, private enterprises and other stakeholders concerned about the degradation of freshwater environments and the impact this has on local people. The project harnesses the power of communities, linked through a global initiative and backed by strong technical expertise to protect, restore and sustain local freshwater ecosystems and ecosystem services to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Rotary is a global service organization with more than 1.2 million volunteers globally. It has seven focus areas, which are: water and sanitation, environmental conservation, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development and peace and conflict prevention/resolution.