Pollution

 Pollution - Uchafuzi wa mazingira

Pollution affects us all, no matter where we live. Before we go any further, we need to establish what we mean by pollution. Pollution is generally understood to mean the pollution of the

Environment understood through the action and presence of people. The focus is on the environmental impact of waste and waste

emissions. They arise mainly during the production or consumption of products as an unwanted by-product or after the end of consumption or use due to the product itself becoming superfluous and must be disposed of. While in the case of environmental pollution the pollution is caused by the materials introduced, the problem with other pollution and destruction is the loss or destruction of existing ecologically important material.

So far so good. Let's go one step further. I assume everyone knows about this problem in Kenya. I know it and it's not pretty. Again and again a bizarre sight presents itself when I approach small clusters of houses and huts. Thousands of plastic bags hang in the bushes like colorful flowers. These paper-thin packages are floating around Kenya, no matter what you buy, everything is stuffed into a black, orange or blue bag. This is catastrophic for the environment. The plastic ends up in the ground, gets into lakes and rivers, goats and cattle eat it up and die. It clogs drains and water collects in the bags, in which malaria mosquitoes multiply. And it's not just that. Everything gets thrown away, no matter where you are, everything goes to that place. That means, where there are people there is crap. No one cares, everyone takes it for granted.

The Kenyan constitution enshrines the “right to a clean and healthy environment” as a fundamental right. According to Vision 2030, Kenya should be a country with a clean, safe and sustainable environment by 2030. With the "Climate Change Action Plan", which has been in force since 2013, Kenya wants to meet its international obligations to reduce emissions and protect the climate.

Does that help? Obviously not. Garbage is piling up in the villages and with the garbage come diseases. What's the use of being vaccinated against Covid if people just perish in the garbage?

The dump is a source of diseases and stench, but also the basis of life for many thousands of slum dwellers. They look for something useful in the rubbish. Leftover food for pigs, PET bottles, valuable raw materials from electronic waste. A mixture of paper, sawdust and water is mixed to form briquettes. Only absolutely non-recyclable items are burned.

Climate change, air pollution, waste and deforestation threaten the livelihoods of the population. Long queues of trucks clog the major connecting roads. Most Kenyans travel in the collective buses, and hardly any cars meet any emission standard here. Nairobi, in particular, collapses daily under masses of commuter cars whose drivers have to plan hours in traffic jams. Air pollution is not an issue in Kenya. The buses do not turn off the engine, even when they make a 15-minute stop.

The next problem to hit Kenya is industrialization. Half a million Kenyans make their living from the flower industry. A large proportion of Valentine's Day roses come from Kenya. These are grown in large greenhouses. A waste product are the pesticides, which are disposed of cheaply. This waste water enters the lakes and rivers unfiltered. Compliance with environmental protection guidelines. Not demanded by the politicians because they themselves benefit from the flower industry.

So everyone can see that the problem is huge and runs through all of society.

One thing should make everyone think. I was traveling by bus. I drank water from a PET bottle. When it was empty, I wanted to throw it in the garbage can that was with the driver. Because I couldn't reach him, I asked a gentleman standing not far from me if he could throw the PET bottle in the trash can. He took the bottle and threw it out the window! When asked why he threw the bottle on the street, he just shrugged. I just said it was pollution, he said it wasn't his country.

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika

Angel, I love you angel

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika

Angel, I love you angel

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio

and I, what should I do, your young friend

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

I am defeated by the bride price that I don't have

Ningekuoa Malaika

I would marry you, angel

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

I am defeated by the bride price that I don't have

Ningekuoa Malaika

I would marry you, angel

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege

Little bird, I think of you little bird

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege

Little bird, I think of you little bird

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio

and I, what should I do, your young friend

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

I am defeated by the bride price that I don't have

Ningekuoa Malaika

I would marry you, angel

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

I am defeated by the bride price that I don't have

Ningekuoa, Malaika

I would marry you, angel

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu

The money (which I do not have) depresses my soul

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu

the money (which I do not have) depresses my soul

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio

and I, what should I do, your young friend

Nashindwa na mali sina, we

I am defeated by the bride price that I don't have

Ningekuoa Malaika

I would marry you, angel

Nashindwa na mali sina, we

I am defeated by the bride price that I don't have

Ningekuoa Malaika

I would marry you, angel