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More than 51% of Kenyans are suffering from food insecurity.(National council for population and development (NCPD) This is contributed greatly to by the reduced rainfall levels and climate change. However, the National Council for Population and Development in Kenya has attributed population growth as a key contributor to the rising food insecurity. This increased population has led to mass movement from rural to urban areas in search of white-collar jobs. This has led to increased demand for settlement areas that have led people to settle in sensitive areas such as wetlands and riparian areas, especially in city slums. Demand for land has also led to the conversion of agricultural lands into building areas. This is so rampant in Kiambu, Murang’a, Kajiado and Machakos. Pastoralists and other communities that live in marginalized areas suffer the most because their economic activities are dependent on the conditions such as weather for example cattle rearing. In order to break the chain of food insecurity sustainably, agroecology and environmental education have to be introduced at all levels of education. Behaviour change towards the environment should be the ultimate goal if the war on food insecurity is to be won. Every citizen should strive to grow their own food or part of it because with the economic inflation being experienced all over the globe, it is no longer sustainable to buy enough food. Vertical gardening in urban and water-scarce areas would go a long way to provide part of the household food requirements, especially vegetables.
Regulations especially on waste management especially the biodegradable waste that can be composted to enrich the soil should be put in place and followed to the later. Banning of converting huge areas of agricultural land into building areas should be implemented to avoid losing the little available fertile land.
World Toilet Day 2024 Theme: Toilets, A Place for Peace
Until the spirit of sustainable ecosystems and livelihoods, this year’s World Sanitation Day should be viewed as a day to evaluate where we are at as a society in putting sanitation in the circular economy.
This can be done by ticking the achievement boxes and crossing the ones not met on the entire sanitation chain.
The evaluation will start by checking the provision or availability of toilets that are dignified and serves the purpose of providing “a place for peace “ .
Secondly to tick or cross whether the system used is able to collect the waste effectively which will there after be treated for ease and safety of handling during the transformation to renewable energy, organic fertilizer and clean water.
In a situation where dignified toilets, Waste collection system, Waste treatment and waste transformation boxes are all ticked then good health will be achieved,food security enhanced and jobs created.
However, despite the UN including the Open defecation free (ODF) as a goal in the sustainable development goals (goal 6) ,It is yet to be achieved especially in developing countries due to people reverting back to open defecation despite getting the certificate due to collapsing toilets .
Although there has been a decline in the open defecating households in the world from 1.3 billion to 419 million between 2000 and 2022,(journal of health, population and nutrition 43 ) there is still high open defecation in the sub Saharan Africa, Kenya included.
Traditional ecological insights, wisdom, and knowledge are passed down through generations. This is very important, especially in environmental conservation and sustainable development.
However, with increased use of technology most people especially the young ones may see this knowledge as backward and useless but it is the one that guided the way of life before technology and climate change.
Unfortunately with age the bearers of this knowledge are getting old and frail and their memory is failing them and eventually at the end of their time they exit the stage without leaving a backup. It is a great loss.
One such resource bearer is Mama Salome who lives adjacent to the Arabuko Sokoke forest which is a UN biodiversity Hotspot. The forest has not been spared the effects of climate change exposing the animals that are endemic to the forest in danger of extinction and the rich floral diversity to be a thing of the past only to be seen in books.
Mama Salome and other wisdom bearers play their hummingbird role by growing the species they need for herbal remedies at their farms creating a source of seeds in case the species in the wild disappears and also relieves the natural forest of the pressure of extraction which can be detrimental to the ecosystem when it is done without caution.
She also attends forums where environmental matters are being discussed and explains the need to domesticate the trees. She also shares her knowledge of herbal medicine and the common remedies for example the ones that were used by men to gain energy (coconut and raw cassava)
People of all ages are encouraged to stay close to such people and absorb the knowledge. The only way to ensure the baton keeps moving in the fight against climate change race.
Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It has four main dimensions:
Availability – sufficient quantities of food available consistently
Access – having resources to obtain appropriate foods
Utilization – proper use of food, including proper food preparation and nutrition knowledge
Stability – consistent access to food over time
Food security is primarily addressed in SDG 2: “Zero Hunger.” This goal aims to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. The specific targets include:
Ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food year-round for all people
Ending all forms of malnutrition
Doubling agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers
Ensuring sustainable food production systems
Maintaining genetic diversity of seeds, plants, and animals
Increasing investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural research
Preventing agricultural trade restrictions and market distortions
Kenya ranks 100th out of 127 countries in terms of food security or lack thereof ( 2024 Global Hunger Index). 51% of the population is faced with food poverty.
Food poverty is a large part of the population, and the situation can only worsen with increasing climate change.
However, practicing climate-smart agriculture which advocates for crop rotation, minimum tillage and mulching may assist in increasing the productivity of the land, a great step towards being food secure.
The use of crop biomass to make manure enriches the soil by plowing back the carbon trapped in them in the soil .. This enriches the soil as well as reduces the carbon emissions that would have happened in cases of open burning of crop remains.
Date: 13th September 2024 Location: UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi Host: Ms. Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP
In a heartwarming and powerful moment, Miriam, one of Kwetu Yetu CBO’s youngest ambassadors, stood proudly alongside other children from across Kenya at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi. The group was on a mission to deliver an urgent message—one written by children, to the world. Their goal: to bring attention to the devastating impact of plastic pollution and urge global leaders to take immediate action.
A Voice for Change
As a member of Kwetu Yetu Community-Based Organization (CBO), which is dedicated to sustainable resource management, climate adaptation, and community empowerment, Miriam has been deeply involved in environmental initiatives from a young age. Kwetu Yetu’s tagline, “Nurturing Nature and Thriving Together,” reflects the values Miriam has grown up with—values she is now bringing to the international stage.
The letters presented to UNEP, written by children from Malindi, Kenya, conveyed a heartfelt plea to curb plastic pollution. These letters, filled with youthful hope and determination, highlighted the concerns that the next generation has about the environment they are inheriting. The children wrote passionately about the harm that plastic waste is causing to their communities, wildlife, and oceans, and called for urgent reforms in how plastic is produced, consumed, and disposed of.
A Memorable Occasion at UNEP
Ms. Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP, warmly welcomed Miriam and her peers to the UNEP headquarters. In her address, Ms. Andersen praised the children for their commitment to environmental advocacy and emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of youth when shaping global policies on sustainability. She reiterated UNEP’s dedication to tackling plastic pollution through international cooperation and grassroots engagement, highlighting that the fight against plastic pollution requires a collective effort, from world leaders to the youngest citizens.
For Miriam, this was more than just a chance to deliver a letter; it was a moment to speak up for her generation, representing not just the children of Kwetu Yetu but also the future stewards of the planet. “We want to grow up in a world where nature is clean and healthy, and plastic is no longer a threat,” Miriam said during her visit. Her words resonated with everyone present, reminding the world that protecting the environment is a responsibility we all share.
Kwetu Yetu CBO: Leading the Charge for a Sustainable Future
Kwetu Yetu CBO has been at the forefront of environmental advocacy in Malindi, Kenya, engaging communities in sustainable resource management and climate adaptation initiatives. By empowering youth like Miriam to take active roles in environmental stewardship, Kwetu Yetu is ensuring that the next generation is equipped to lead the fight against climate change and environmental degradation. Through tree-planting drives, recycling programs, and educational campaigns, the CBO continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of local communities and the environment.
A Call to Action
The event at UNEP was a reminder that young people are not only the future—they are also the present, and their voices must be heard. Miriam, alongside her peers, reminded world leaders that the decisions they make today will shape the world that children will inherit tomorrow.
Kwetu Yetu CBO remains committed to nurturing nature and helping communities thrive together. With young champions like Miriam leading the way, there is hope that future generations will grow up in a world that is cleaner, greener, and free from the harmful impacts of plastic pollution.
Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can build a future where nature thrives.
