Cleanup starts to rid Lake Victoria of plastics

Originally published on The Star.

April 6 2023

The Kisumu government and various organisations have partnered to rid Lake Victoria of plastic waste.

Spearheaded by Osiepe Sango (Friends of Lake Victoria) Organisation, the cleanup exercise targets to remove plastic and other waste washed into the lake.

Osiepe Sango director Millicent Olal said the efforts were geared towards restoring the lake to its pristine condition following years of neglect and massive pollution.

Plastic pollution, she said, threatened the survival of the lake, posing a danger to human beings and aquatic life.

When washed into the lake, Olal said, plastics are broken down into micro plastics which are ingested by fish.

“Since we all eat fish, we end up consuming this substance which is harmful to our health,” she said.

The livelihoods of more than 14 million people who directly depend on the lake, Olal added, were equally threatened by the plastics menace.

Osiepe Sango, Olal said, has partnered with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI), Grand Royal Swiss Hotel, Water Bus, Wildlife Parks of Kenya, Amazon, Friends of Dunga Swamp among other organisations to scale up the drive to other parts of the lake.

“We have started here today but this drive is going to be extended to Dunga Beach and other beaches to ensure that we restore the lake,” she said.

The cleanup was launched by Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o at Nanga area.

Participants removed tonnes of plastics from river Wigwa which drains into Lake Victoria.

Nyong’o said his government will work closely with organisations to conserve the lake.

He challenged Kisumu residents to stop reckless dumping of waste to reduce the amount of plastics and other non-biodegradable materials washed into the lake.

“We must all know that it is cyclical. You throw the plastics here, it is washed into the lake, fish eat the plastics, you eat the fish and die,” he said.

Nyong’o further directed the City Management of Kisumu to enforce segregation of waste at household level to ensure that plastics are not washed into the lake.

The exercise, he added, was a build-up activity to the 2023 Fish Fiesta, which shall be held in the lake side city during the Easter weekend.

Revellers will be treated to the best freshwater fish from Lake Victoria, traditional Luo cuisine, music and traditional wrestling.

Other activities lined up during the event include Miss Tourism, Mr Tourism, Mr Flex, Mr Strong, tug of war, boat racing, among others.

The events are geared towards promoting Kisumu as a tourist hub.