This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
On the eve of International Day of Peace, Kenyan youths took to the streets to demand immediate action on climate change. The global climate strike, held on Friday, saw youths from various organizations, including Action Aid, Mathare Green Movement, and Dada Power, protest against the government's slow pace in implementing climate change policies.
According to Irene Wairimu, Action Aid's Policy Governance and Youth Engagement Officer, 'Our house is on fire, and we can no longer treat climate change as another passing event, we have to respond immediately.'
Stella Nderitu, founder of Dada Power, a Murang'a County-based community organization, emphasized the impact of climate change on women and girls. She stated that climate change manifests itself in droughts and unreliable rainfall, forcing many women to cover long distances in search of water for domestic use.
Ms. Nderitu also highlighted the issue of girls missing school to search for water and firewood due to the changing climate. She urged citizens to take an active role in conserving the environment, citing improper waste disposal as a significant contributor to environmental pollution.
During the march, participants encouraged Kenyans to plant more trees and use renewable energy. Dada Power also presented a petition to the government, requesting increased funding for climate change in the counties and the enactment of more climate change policies to mitigate the effects of climate change in arid and semi-arid areas.
Mathare Green Movement's Moses Wanjau added to the demands, calling for the government to plant more trees, reserve more natural forests, and protect indigenous trees.
As the world marks International Day of Peace, the fight for climate justice is a global initiative, emphasizing the need for immediate action to lower greenhouse emissions, build resilience, and improve education on climate change.
According to a report by the United Nations, climate change threatens international peace and security, displacing three times as many people as conflicts, and endangering food security through the salinisation of water and crops.
