The pollution of River Galana has reached alarming levels, with its waters turning completely green and posing a serious threat to aquatic life, as well as to human and animal health along the Galana-Sabaki River.
In Bombi village, Kilifi county, residents have recently been collecting dead fish from the river, raising concerns about the safety of aquatic life. Some of the fish species found dead include Arius africanus and Butis butis, both vital to the river’s ecosystem.
According to locals, the dead fish retrieved from the river were found with their gills clogged by sisal-like waste, suggesting that effluents being discharged into the river are suffocating fish species.
Community members suspect that a sisal processing plant situated near the river could be responsible for releasing waste into the water. While no official confirmation has been made, the visible signs of water discolouration and floating fish have left residents deeply worried.
Led by Japhet Kazungu, residents have called for urgent investigations into the source of the pollution and demanded that authorities take immediate action to stop the contamination.
If left unchecked, the contamination will endanger not only aquatic life but also human and animal health, agriculture, and tourism across the Galana-Sabaki ecosystem.
As investigations are awaited, residents remain anxious, fearing that the once-lifeline river may turn into a danger for both humans and wildlife if urgent action is not taken.
