By Joshua Otieno | February 23, 2026
Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya has warned that continued pollution of the Sabaki River is taking a heavy toll on Malindi, with the tourism sector among the hardest hit.
Speaking on the environmental challenge, Baya said large volumes of waste, silt, and harmful chemicals carried by the river are flowing into the ocean, degrading marine life. He noted that the pollution has led to fish deaths and transformed once-attractive beaches into muddy, unappealing shorelines.
The legislator observed that the environmental decline has negatively affected Malindi’s appeal to visitors, with many tourists choosing alternative destinations such as Watamu and Diani, which are considered cleaner and better maintained.
Baya called on the government to adopt a more comprehensive strategy in addressing pollution of major rivers, pointing out that while clean-up efforts on the Nairobi River are ongoing, downstream regions where the waste eventually accumulates must not be ignored.
He stressed that Malindi’s position as a key coastal tourism hub depends on urgent and targeted environmental restoration, saying sustained intervention is necessary to revive the local economy and restore the town’s reputation as a leading tourist destination.
