The national World cleanup celebrations took place on 20th September, 2024 at Hon. John Michuki Memorial Park. This was among 30 other cleanup activities ongoing concurrently countrywide.
This year's event takes place following addition to the UN Calendar of International Days for the first time. Kenya started celebrating this day 7 years ago. The cleanup celebrations started in Estonia in 2008 as "Lets Do It." The theme for this year's event was, "Make Room for Life."
"The day aims to activate 5% of the world's population that will catalyse lasting societal change in behaviour around mismanaged waste," said NEMA Vice Chair, Sophia Matura.
She added that its important for everyone to take responsibility for our own environment- avoid throwing waste from the car windows or in open spaces.
The Authority looks forward towards the future, the concept of the circular economy will play a crucial role in transforming waste management. The Authority envisions a future where waste is no longer seen as a burden but as a valuable resource—where segregation, recycling, repurposing, and reusing materials are the norm, not the exception.
Kenyans were urged to completely stop using the banned plastic bags. Its starts from citizen-led responsibility to keep a healthy and clean environment. This has a great effect on reduction of illegal dumping of waste and focus more on recycling.