Kate Mwikali the chairperson of Progressive welfare association of Malindi looks at the wastes being dumped 50 meters from the gate of the Malindi Marine national park which is a threat to the environment
Residents of casuarina area in Malindi take part in the monthly cleanup exercise in the area
Sabina Vivaldi an Italian investor shows an area that has been turned into a dustbin along the road leading to the Malindi Marine national park.
The massive dumping of waste along the marine park road in Malindi is now threatening the renowned beach paradise risk. The mass dumping of the wastes is quickly making the recreational facility lose its luster and credibility.
The road is the gateway to Malindi marine national park which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Malindi is among the renowned tourism circuit in the world and is fondly called small Milan because of its many Italian investors and tourists who flock the town every year.
It is also home to many international celebrities including Italian Billionaire Flavio Briatore a former formula one boss, Kenyan football superstar MacDonald Mariga, and attracts international celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, among other top government personalities and investors.
The waste which has become a menace is dumped from the main junction leading to the marine park and consist of plastics, bottles, and even chemicals.
Where the waste is dumped is just 50 metres away from a dumpsite created by the locals directly opposite the marine park.
The foul smell emanating from the wastes distracts visitors along the road which leads to private villas used by tourists visiting the park.
In a bid to reclaim the lost glory, Malindi tourism stakeholders and other players organized a clean-up exercise to address the problem.
Freddie De Curatolo the spokesman of the Italian community in Malindi termed the problem as disgusting and negatively affecting tourism.
He said it was unacceptable for people to be allowed to dump waste near the entrance of the Malindi marine national park which is paradise and loved by many.
“We are just 50 meters from the paradise the tourist the attraction of Malindi, the marine park this is a real shame because this bush of waste is just near to the Briatore heaven,’’ he said
Mr Curatolo said the menace is just within the casuarina smart villas and the beautiful beach of Malindi at the Kenyan coast.
He said the solid waste management act that is in place must be enforced to prevent such shameful and reckless dumping of wastes that area threat to the environment or else the situation will worsen.
At the ‘dumpsite’ one could easily see plastics thrown on trees, pampers, plastic wastes, and all over the bush.
It’s even difficult to clean the waste unless the bush is completely cleared due to the risk of snakebites and thorns.
Sabina Vivaldi an investor also expressed concern about the manner in which people were dumping wastes at the gateway to the marine park.
She said the area is full of residential residences and multi-billion investments that attract tourists due to the proximity to the national park.
“We would really ask for reinforcement of the waste management laws to ensure people are not allowed to dump waste anywhere,’’ she said.
Vivaldi said people must be responsible for their garbage so mas to make the area clean and green.
The investor who is one of the founder members of Progressive welfare Association of Malindi that is in the forefront of cleaning up Malindi every second week of the month called for authorities to take action so as to stop the menace.
“Here we have plastics, we have pool chemicals we have foam that is dumped along the road leading to the marine park,” she said.
