By Anchor Writer
WOTE, June 5, 2025
In a decisive move to combat plastic pollution, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has banned single-use plastics across all county offices and official functions, effective immediately.
Announcing the ban during World Environment Day celebrations in Wote, Governor Mutula declared the county’s zero-tolerance stance on plastic waste, calling it “a silent killer of our environment and health.”
“Enough is enough! We must act now before plastics choke the life out of us,” he said.
The urgency of the ban is underscored by alarming data: Wote Municipality alone generates 20 metric tons of waste every day—25% of it is plastic. These plastics clog drainage systems, pollute rivers, and take hundreds of years to decompose.
To address the crisis sustainably, the county has unveiled a Sh180 million Material Recovery Facility. The project, aimed at enhancing segregation, recycling, and reuse of waste, is expected to significantly reduce the volume of plastics ending up in dumpsites while creating green jobs for the youth.
Additionally, Governor Mutula launched the County Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, developed in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), to restore degraded ecosystems and bolster nature-based solutions.
The twin actions mark a bold step by the Makueni government to shift from rhetoric to results in the fight against environmental degradation.
