Where: Kisumu, Kenya 

Solutions: Education and advocacy, Reduction in pollution, Involvement of local communities and indigenous peoples 

Bring Back Lake Victoria campaign seeks to eradicate plastic pollution in Lake Victoria by:  

  • Creating awareness and sensitizing people on dangers of plastic pollution 
  • Research and data collection to help establish extent of plastic pollution  
  • Using technology to make data collection and monitoring more efficient 
  • Media outreach 
  • Youth empowerment 
  • Lobbying for implementation of existing extended producer responsibility laws and enactment of stiffer penalties 
  • Innovation in terms of products made from recyclable plastic  
  • Studying and applying indigenous knowledge that helped preserve lake and marine life in ages past. 
  • Creating a sense of ownership, stewardship, heritage, and responsibility for the Lake in every Kenyan  citizen  
  •  Lobbying for relevant environmental education to be added to the school syllabus 
  • Bringing together all stakeholders in the Lake to form a network. A network of problem-solvers 

The campaign has reached: the Usoma community- on the shores of the Lake; the Kanyamedha community- upstream, Dunga community across the lake; youth clubs (Kisumu Bike Club, Kisumu Environmental Champions) Kenya Red Cross, environmentalists, naturalists, and companies that operate along the Nkrumah road shoreline of the Lake (Coca Cola, Kenya Pipeline Company, United Millers Ltd, Multiple Hauliers, Total Kisumu Depot), NGOs, INGOs (Safe Water and AIDS Project, the East African Community Lake Victoria Basin Commission) and Government Institutions (County Government of Kisumu, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, National Environment Management Authority, Kenya Fisheries Service). At their International Coastal Cleanup day on 19th September 2020 and their December 12th, 2020 Super cleanup, together with local beach cleanups in Usoma and Dunga they have reached well over 1000 people directly. 

They have gotten companies, NGOs, INGOs, Government agencies, youth groups, and local communities within Kisumu to realize there is an urgent need to address plastic pollution and make the efforts in addressing plastic pollution more cohesive. This led to the signing of a local agreement with KMFRI to spearhead efforts aimed at tackling plastic pollution. The agreement was signed by their school Director and the KMFRI CEO on behalf of all interested organizations. They have sensitized people and communities on plastic pollution. Some members of the Usoma community have become so passionate having learnt about the dangers plastic pollution portends to their health and well-being. They are sensitizing other community members at every opportunity. 

Some of the obstacles faced: 

  • Setting out to mitigate the effects of plastic pollution by setting up recycling plant within community to having initial plans evolve so much as they come face to face with different challenges on the ground forcing them back to the drawing board.  
  • Careless disposal of waste and a distinct lack of awareness on negative impact of their actions  
  • Not everyone who comes on board shares their vision resulting in frequent clashes of opinion on best way forward.  
  • Investing in opportunists and joyriders costing them invaluable time.  
  • Organizational politics within participating organizations slowing down progress.  

They are overcoming these challenges by consulting widely and building consensus. They have chosen to be persistent, flexible, and open to learning but also being firm, solutions-oriented and results-oriented. They have learned that it’s good to be open-minded and willing to learn when starting a project. They always make sure that they are on the same page with everyone involved when starting a project- they must share a vision. When sensitizing people, bring it down to their level and show them how it connects to them. 

Photos provided by Millicent Muchilwa and Dismus Kosieny

 

Disclaimer: These stories are submitted by Civil Society Organizations from around the world. Information provided on the webpage is self-reported. United Nations does not take responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of the information provided by any information provider.