Optiven Foundation has partnered with Kajiado County Government and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) – Kajiado, who had mobilized over 1, 000 community members in Kitengela to come together and help collect plastic bags garbage heaped in the area as part of cleaningup this great, fast-developing town.
The exercise which took place on September 18 was launched at Kitengela Town by the County Governor, Joseph Ole Lenku. It aimed at getting rid of dumped plastic bags at the town, its dumping site, all the way to adjacent areas including Kimalat. Also present at Kitengela town was the National Youth Service (NYS) under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, NYS Director General – Dr. Richard Ethan Ndubai and NYS Deputy Director Mr. Sam Michuki Directorate of Youth Affairs and presided over the clean up exercise and sensitization.
Optiven Foundation donated over 500 t-shirts with the theme of the day, Our Environment Our Life which was geared towards sensitization of environment protection and sustainability. They also donated safety protection gear like gloves, dust masks, overcoats, tools that ranged from spades, rakes, matchetes, brooms, slashers, helmets, water, soda and first aid facilities
“We are pleased to be part of this initiative which is aimed at mobilizing the residents of Kitengela to consider taking it upon themselves to do something meaningful to both the society and the environment, however little their effort may seem to be, to help clear the used and dumped plastic bags that are contributing to the destruction of our beautiful environment,” noted Optiven Foundation’s Chairman, George Wachiuri.
Wachiuri pointed out that with the recent ban on the use of Plastic bags in Kenya, thismove will certainly be a boost to NEMA’s efforts towardsgetting rid of used plastic bags not only in Kitengela and Kajiado County, but by extension, the whole of Kenya. The Foundation has actively been involved on matters of educating the public on good Environmental practices and has so far been involved in planting over 1 million trees across the country. The Group has also been actively involved in making water available for residents, especially in Kajiado County.
“Optiven Foundation is already compliantwith the new order by NEMA because we believe, abide by and are very intentional about a clean Environment. We are also 100 percent committed to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals – (SDGS). We also believe that this activity will go a long way in helping to create a cleaner and healthier environment for all the residents of Kitengela,” said Mr Wachiuri.
Optiven Foundation believes in Transformation, not just for self, but for others as well. Mr Wachiuri noted that the Foundation believes in mobilizing for new, transformational, positivechange, for the betterment of the Society. As a Foundation, the Group exists to socially and economically empower and transform our society. “Indeed, the Private Sector must collaborate with both the Central and our Local Governments like Kajiado County in helping the World to achieve all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” noted Wachiuri.
Optiven Foundation is contributing towards the achievement of most of the United Nation’s SDGs through the following ways:
- Goal 1 (No Poverty) – Optiven Foundation’s Poverty Alleviation Pillar has transformed many Kenyan lives. The Foundation has successfully rolled out programs that include: Restoring the dignity of the forgotten citizens, women empowerment, youth empowerment, and supporting children home.
(https://www.optivenfoundation.org/corepillars/povertyalleviation) - Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) –Optiven Foundation’s Feed One More initiative recorded an epic distribution of tonnes of foodstuffs to over 10, 000 Kenyans, at the beginning of this year 2017. This was in response the recent drought that affected many parts of Kenya. This campaign covered areas as far as Samburu, Ngatataek in Kajiando and parts of Central Kenya. (https://www.optivenfoundation.org/newsandevents/85-you-helped-feed-one-more-kenyan-asante-sana)
- Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) -Optiven Foundation’s Health Pillar has so far touched many lives. The Foundation is actively involved in bringing free medical camps in areas whose populace may not have afforded these services. (https://www.optivenfoundation.org/corepillars/promotionofhealth)
- Goal 4 (Quality Education) – Soaring Eagles Sponsorship Forumis one of the Foundation’s most successful running programes. So far, this initiative has overseen successful scholarship of hundreds of students from poor family backgrounds across all Kenyan counties.(https://www.optivenfoundation.org/corepillars/provisionofeducation)
- Goal 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) – Souring Eagles Program, has had an emphasis on deserving girls (and boys) through education scholarship. Some of these girls are already destined to become great women in the society. (https://www.optivenfoundation.org/soaringeagles)
- Goal 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) –Most of Optiven Foundation’s Mother Company projects have borehole Water as part of value addition. Most of the time, this water is also offeredto the communities around the projects.(https://www.optiven.co.ke/properties)
- Goal 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy) – Optiven Foundation continuously champions for Solar Lighting and use of Biogas.The Foundation’s mother company is already setting the pace by installing solar street lights in some of its key projects like Victory Gardens Phase 3. (https://www.optiven.co.ke/properties/victorygardensphase3)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) – Optiven Nest is a young entrepreneurs’ incubation program that is run by Optiven Foundation. The Nest constitutes the very first step towards creation of ‘one million entrepreneurs’ in Kenya. (https://www.optivenfoundation.org/optivennest)
- Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) – Optiven Group is already an industry pacesetter. The Group recently launched a new Unit – Optiven Construction, which is aimed at making housing much more affordable in Kenya. The Group is committed to fostering innovation and has already set aside huge resources to achieve this goal. (https://www.optiven.co.ke/about-us/whoweare)
- Goal 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable) – Optiven Foundation’s mother company – Optiven Group offers affordable housing products to as many Kenyans. (http://www.optiven.co.ke/blog/private-sector-ready-to-help-bridge-kenyas-housing-deficit/)
- Goal 13 (Climate Action) – Environment Protection is the 4th Pillar of our Optiven Foundation. (https://www.optivenfoundation.org/corepillars/environmentprotection)
- Goal 15 (Life on Land) – Optiven Foundation appreciates the fact that there is need to increase our forest cover, which as at now accounts for only 30% of the Earth’s surface. The Foundation has spearheaded planting of over 1 million trees across the Mother Company’s projects. (https://www.optivenfoundation.org/sucessstories/successinenviromentprotection)
This latest Foundation’s partnership with Kajiado County and NEMA is in line with Goal Number 13 – (Climate action) – Environment Protection is indeed the 4th Pillar of Optiven Foundation. “At Optiven Foundation, we are an Organization of the future. We are an organization that creates, delivers, and captures value not only in economic but also in social and cultural issues.Our vision is to be pacesetters in social economic transformation,” notes Mr. Wachiuri.
Ultimately, the Kitengela clean-up exercise was aimed at not only helping this County achieve hygiene but as a wakeup call to the local communities, that protecting our environment is the duty of everyone at every level, for the sake of our future generation.
Optiven Foundation can be reached on: Email: info@optivenfoundation.org or relationship@optivenfoundation.org
