Malindi residents have heeded to a call from the County administration to clean up the resort town.
Hundreds of business people, county government officials and residents turned up for the first cleaning exercise at the weekend.
Garbage was collected from Malindi airport to the Central Business District and the Baobab Beach area.
State officials led by Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga joined the locals.
Shops and all other major businesses were closed for three hours as the cleanup went on.
Kilifi County Chief Officer for Environment Mariam Jenebi said the cleanup would make locals understand the concept of citizen responsibility in protecting the environment.
She said the aim was to ensure all garbage collection points were cleaned daily. In 2001, Malindi was declared the cleanest town in Kenya.
Attract investors
Philemon Mwavalla, an investor in the tourism industry, said such dedication from residents could end up attracting investors.
He said the initiative came from the Malindi business community, in partnership with the county government.
“Our strategy, in collaboration with the county government, is to ensure that Malindi becomes a green city. By working with the local community we know we can achieve that,” Mr Mwavalla said.
An Italian investor, Sabina Vivaldi, who has lived in Malindi for years, said she expected to see Malindi become a haven for tourists like it was planned to be.
“The Malindi community today has taken steps that have encouraged all of us. The first stone has been laid, and the social pillar of cleanliness will follow,” Vivaldi said.
Cate Mwikali, chairperson of the Malindi Community Steering Committee, said the committee would ensure the exercise was a routine.
