The Lambayai stream which runs from the top of the Kambui hills over looking Kenema through the North Western part of the city down to the South behind Lambayaima section is presently exercising the collective minds of Kenema city officials as well as relevant NGOs concerned with protecting the environment in the country. The creeks over the years provided residents living on its banks with valuable water for irrigation, fishing as well as other recreational and laundry activities.
The creeks have also been of cultural and historical significance to the Kenema community in many ways. Sadly due to misuse by residents in the sections through which the creeks run on its unending joining to the larger river downstream, the Lambayai creeks is really being suffocated.
The throwing of wastes into the stream has been of particular concern to environmentalists who have been making increasing calls for the city officials to do some thing about the deplorable situation on the banks of the Lambayai stream.
An elder statesman in the city who is also the community animator Mr. Musa Caulker echoed the concerns of majority of the residents in the various communities through which the Lambayai stream passes in the city in a radio discussion over the Local FM station here Eastern Radio.
Speaking to the Press Caulker stressed the need for a concerted effort by all the stakeholders to institute an environmental clean up programme as a matter of urgency to save the creeks. ]
Mr. Caulker noted that the dumping of waste in to the stream is causing serious environmental hazards which are by all accounts very dangerous for the health of residents of Kenema city.
Speaking to the Press and Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Kenema City Council (KCC) councilors Amidu Bah of ward 32 in the Kenema city council said the council will do all in their power to stop the missue of the Lambayai creeks, adding that all stakeholders including residents and market women will be brought in to form the united front to save the creeks.
Councilor Bah is calling on land owning and families as well as others including residents to behave properly and to desist from throwing waste and other unwanted materials in to the creeks with the warning that violators will be prosecuted.
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