Restoration of Quarry Sites in Kisumu

From kisumu.go.ke

By: Kate Owuoche and Millicent Owuoth

The Kisumu County subcommittee on natural resources yesterday engaged the quarry owners on the environmental plans to restore the already exhausted quarry sites. The meeting held at the Grace Onyango hall was a follow up from the resolutions made previously concerning the environmental challenges within Kisumu County.

The abandoned quarries had been cited as a risk to the community causing death, inhabiting mosquitos and contributing to soil erosion around the sites of harvests. It is against this backdrop that the committee resolved to engage the quarry owners on the restoration plans. The meeting that was chaired by the County Executive Committee Member for Environment, Water, Natural resources and climate change, Mr. Salmon Orimba, resolved that the quarry owners will share their environmental plan for restoration with the committee.

 In a week’s time, the County Environment Committee Members will visit the quarry sites to ascertain the level of quarrying done at the site so as to be able to guide them on the effective restoration activities, after which another week will be given for them to work on the plans.

” We are hope that this conversation will not end at this point, but will be taken to the next level where we continuously engage and carry out an annual environmental audit to comply with the laid down requirements.” said Mr. Orimba

Mr. Manjeet Singh of Ndugu transport and Niyam Shah of Ujenzi both commended the concerted effort made by the committee to invite them in order to sensitize them on the significance of environmental conservation. They promised to abide with the regulations put across during the meeting. In addition, the committee and quarry owners did not only agree to restore the quarry sites but also plant trees in the restored areas making them less of an environmental hazard to the community around them.

In attendance were representatives from NEMA, Kisumu County environmental department and quarry owner from urban Singh, Ndugu transport and Kisumu concrete among other quarry owners.

Images: The Kisumu County subcommittee on natural resources together with quarry owners pose for a group photo after the meeting at the Grace Onyango Social Hall