Ongata Rongai church fights plastic pollution

The 9^th of June was not a normal day for Mr. Rudolf Makhanu, Country Coordinator for Kenya from the International Crane Foundation. He has just announced the creation of the Environment Ministry at Ongata Rongai church, but he did that while wearing his gloves and mask waiting for dozens of his group to join him for the biggest plastic cleanup campaign he had ever organized. The excitement was even bigger for Rev Edward Ondachi who was preparing his Sunday mass with an environmental twist. Ongata Rongai, Nairobi Chapel (Eden’s Stewards Ministry) and the County Government of Kajiado County had teamed up with UN Environment on a Faith for Earth mission this world environment day. Celebrations lasted two days where dozens of citizens, students and members of the church gathered at the local Kware Market and spread around the county collecting plastic waste. A huge truck was dedicated by the county government to help in collecting the waste.  

Miss Africa and Miss Environment of the Nazarene University joined the groups, first in a colorful dancing performance chanting to save the environment and then in wearing the gloves and getting the job done. The Sunday mass was not like any other. As the key note speaker, Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, director of the UN Environment Faith for Earth initiative gave an inspiring speech linking faith with the duty of protecting the environment citing many examples from faith sacred books. Dr. Abumoghli said: “God ordered prophet Noah to take with him on the Ark couples of all of God’s creations even the tiniest mosquitos as God created them for a purpose”. Several speakers from the church community expressed support and the need to protect the environment as a matter of faith. A commitment to develop a waste management behavioral and attitude change campaign was made seeking to make waste management a personal responsibility of every citizen, intensify solid waste collection, build capacities and promote tree planting.