MY RADIO FEATURE SCRIPT... BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE!

SFX:        Water gushing...

ANNCR : You cannot change the course of a river...This has become a reality to many Kenyan families in Mlolongo in the outskirts of Nairobi. Unfortunately if urgent and decisive measures are not taken, it will soon again, dawn to the people living in Gichagi area on the slopes of Ngong Hills. These people are living dangerously close to the course of  a stream flowing from the hills. The area which is adjacent to the shopping centre is made up of over 15 foot deep gulleys that are steadily encroaching  onto land occupied by humans. The most distubing sight is that of a three storey commercial building that is under construction standing inches away from the advancing gulleys. Its only a matter of time...

The black cotton soil that quickly absorbs moisture and cracks on drying could be blamed, but what of the engineers and the land developers who despite the shaky ground go on and put up housing units endangering human lives? What of the regulatory authorities like National Environmental Management Authority?

Rapidly changing weather patterns that may result in drying up of rivers for very long periods of time does not give land-hungry individuals a go ahead to occupy or sell them to unsuspecting buyers for habitation.

Nature never forgets, and it will always have its way...

SFX :       Sound byte... 

ANNCR: So, is your house on a catchment area or river bed? 

Its time to take action before nature acts on you...

Today, most people do not appreciate the reality of climate change and its effects. We like to associate it with the developed countries forgetting  that all continents on earth are connected by a single atmosphere into which tones of foul elements are dumped into daily. However, we all experience its effects on daily basis as it is revealed by a section of the locals of Ngong area...

SFX :       Sound byte..

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ANNCR : Nobel laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore reflects on how previous generations decisively came up with the sewer system after observing pollution of their surroundings for a long time. He pauses, 'how come the current generation is not able to see the destruction of the atmosphere by greenhouse gases and CFCs and act decisively now?'

Though the beautiful grasslands on the slopes of Ngong Hills are scenic and ideal for picnic and fun-lovers, they ought to be an eyesore given the wanton destruction of trees that resulted to them.The ongoing effect which ought to be nipped at the bud is the diminishing grazing lands due to encroaching gulleys making the pastoralists move further inside the forests.

We are contributors to  climate change when we irresponsibly cut down trees without caring to replace them. When we opt for cheap and unsustainable sources of energy such as fuel instead of cleaner renewable sources, despite the additional investment.

The cities of the future, Munich in Germany as an example, are working towards being powered fully by clean and renewable sources of energy. The city of Nairobi ought to join this league as well as all the cities of the world. This journey kick started by KenGen by putting up six windmills that supply power to about 6,000 homes should be encouraged and emulated.

How about, each hiker to the Ngong Hills getting to plant a tree on visiting the treasure in a bid to conserve the reserve for future generations? 

Change begins with you! Be the change you want to see!