By S, KNA
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has officially handed over the Mikindani wastewater treatment plant to the local community in Runyu Village, Mombasa, marking a major milestone in wastewater management and environmental conservation.
Speaking during a site visit at the area, UNEP Chief of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Division, Sinikinesh Jimma said the facility is a nature-based solution that addresses social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the community.
“The plant collects wastewater from Mikindani and treats it using natural processes. It relies on gravity flow and solar pumps, making it cost effective and sustainable for community management. Beyond treatment, the project provides clean water for irrigation and creates opportunities for local households, especially women, to engage in farming,” Jimma stated.
Residents of Runyu Village described the project as transformative. Community Development Chairman, Peterlis Omondi, said the wetland has improved sanitation and reduced waterborne diseases.
“Before the project, our environment was polluted with stagnant water and foul smells. Malaria and diarrhea were common, and people were leaving the area. Today, these health problems have drastically reduced, and the community has regained dignity. Treated water is now being used for farming, and more people are even moving here to settle,” Omondi said.
On her part, Pamela Achieng a local resident noted the change in food security and access to water.
“Previously, no one wanted to buy food from this area. Now buyers come from as far as Mikindani Estate. We also struggled to acquire water, but this project has given us easier access to water,” she said.
The Mombasa County Director of NEMA, Fanuel Mosago, said the project supports compliance with the Water Quality Regulations of 2024.
“Wastewater from Mikindani is treated before it is released to the environment. This initiative serves as an example for replication across Mombasa. It benefits the community socially, economically, and environmentally,” he said.
The wetland system combines anaerobic baffled reactors with vertical and horizontal flow wetlands, mimicking natural purification before discharging clean water into Tudor Creek.
Implemented by UNEP in partnership with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and Mombasa County, and funded by the European Union, the facility benefits 40,000 residents, supports irrigation for 50 farms, and contributes to the restoration of mangroves and fisheries habitats.
The project contributes to Kenya’s commitments under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.2, which seeks to protect marine and coastal ecosystems, and SDG 15.5, which focuses on halting biodiversity loss and preventing the extinction of threatened species.
Residents have been actively involved through training, clean-up drives, and awareness sessions, fostering local ownership.
The Mikindani wetland is part of the Go Blue Project, a joint initiative by the European Union, the Government of Kenya, and six coastal counties: Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Taita Taveta, and Tana River. The programme promotes sustainable blue economies by creating jobs, protecting ecosystems, and improving livelihoods.
