By Bernard Gitau
Over 1,000 schools across Kenya took part in the inaugural First Lady Mazingira Awards (FLAMA), which provided students with a platform to contribute to the country’s climate action efforts through art, essays, and spoken word. The award ceremony, held at State House Nairobi, saw young learners being recognized for their role in environmental conservation.
Speaking at the event, First Lady Rachel Ruto emphasized that climate change is the single greatest challenge facing humanity, urging for stronger collective efforts.
“Though children are not the problem of climate change, they bear its heaviest burden,” said Mama Rachel.
She further reflected on the severe drought Kenya experienced in 2022, the worst in 20 years, and how it disproportionately affected children.
“As families struggled to find food and water, some schools were forced to close, leading some learners to drop out of school to help their parents. We must see climate change not just as an environmental issue but a crisis that directly threatens our children’s present and future. This is why children must be central in our action plan,” she stated.
The First Lady highlighted the importance of involving the youth in climate action and stressed the need for environmental conservation, emphasizing the key role young people play in shaping Kenya’s greener future.
“The president has launched an ambitious plan to grow 15 billion trees, and I made two commitments: to plant and grow 500 million trees and to recruit learners and women across the country to support this vision. As participants in this award, you are now part of the green army to protect and nurture our environment,” she told the learners.
She also expressed her dedication to amplifying the voices of Kenyan children by advocating for their protection, provision, and participation in national affairs.
The First Lady reminisced about the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Kenyan environmentalist Prof. Wangari Maathai, noting that Maathai’s teachings, especially the story of the hummingbird, continue to inspire.
“The spirit of the hummingbird is alive today in the learners who participated in the First Lady Mazingira Awards 2024. You may be young, but your actions, like the hummingbird in the story, have a great impact,” she added.
Beyond environmental conservation, the First Lady introduced the ‘Mama Kitchen Garden’ initiative aimed at improving children’s nutrition by promoting the cultivation of vegetables and fruits at home and in schools.
“The first demonstration is at State House in Nairobi and is operational, and this will soon be rolled out in schools,” she noted.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, also present at the event, announced that 30 percent of the 15 billion trees planned for planting will be fruit trees, further integrating schools into this initiative.
“4.5 billion trees will be fruit trees. Schools are an integral part of this, and we are working with them to establish fruit gardens,” said Duale.
