Environment

By Kioko Kivandi In 1984 Kenya was hit by a severe drought. The country’s food banks were severely stressed just as were its water sources. Writing about it in July that year, Allan Cowell, a New York Times journalist noted that rain clouds would gather in the morning but by noon they would all vanish, “like a promise betrayed by ...

By Kioko Kivandi I was photographing a wounded Marabou Stork on the shores of Lake Naivasha on Saturday March 25 when a Hammerkop appeared from nowhere and rested on the shallow end of the lake.   Nearer to thee: This stork had a difficulty in walking and it seemed as if it was nearing its death bed. At first the ...

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) launched the African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards (ACCER) 2016. The competition that aims to recognise and reward excellence in environmental journalism at all levels of society welcomes entries from passionate citizen journalists as well as professional journalists. ACCER Awards highlight exceptional journalistic work and encourages high quality and impactful coverage of environmental issues in Africa. ...

By Alex Njeru I met the young man at Kenyatta National Hospital ward, where my dad was convalescing from an operation. Years and years of smoking tobacco cigarettes had done things to my dad’s body and this time round arteries in his lower limbs had constricted and reneged on their function to supply enough blood to his right leg muscles. ...

The proposed routing of the new railway through Nairobi has been opposed by a section of Nairobi residents associations and the Conservation Alliance of Kenya. The two groups object to the proposed routings of new railway through Nairobi and propose an alternative. The biggest concern is the routing of the Standard Guage Railway (SGR) through the Nairobi National Park which ...

Michael Musombi, has a big reason to smile owing to the financial benefits he has accrued from his 50 x 100ft sukumawiki farm his family owns. The resident of Kanduyi Constituency in Bungoma County ventured into farming after completing his degree course in Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping Technology at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The 25-year-old decided to ...

His passion for environmental conservation led him to delve into a tree nursery project, which five years later has attracted several organizations. This is to further sensitize other youths to engage in activities that safeguard the environment. Peter Wafula Weboya from Sikata, Bungoma County narrates how he started engaging the youth at Mechimeru sub location on several ways on how ...

Since the discovery of the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease MLND in Kenya in the year 2011, efforts to manage it have been in high gear. This is to ensure that the country does not suffer food insecurity where maize is the staple food. The Constitution of Kenya declares access to food as one of the basic Human Rights thus underscoring ...

When the late John Michuki said he wanted to drink water from Nairobi River, most people never thought it could be possible. Unfortunately, the environment minister died before he could see his dream come true. And Nairobi River is still filthy. But there could be an answer to cleaning the messy river and many others in the country using bamboo. ...

As the Climate Change Summit concluded in Paris, the resolution was a pleasing one if it is carried through and implemented. For the first time, the world gathered to agree on cutting carbon emissions and to discuss cutting-edge production technologies to keep average global temperatures below two degrees. Africa, a continent which is among the poorest of continents, has its ...

By Boaz Opio A survey by Google published by Climate Analytics indicates that the word “Climate Change” and “Go Green” was mentioned over 800,000 times within a time span of one month in social media. As if that’s not enough, this year, climate change has been the biggest topic in the news. It’s the only cause that brought together nearly ...

As the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 10th Ministerial Conference concluded in Nairobi, many felt that it failed to earn the poorest countries any advantage. Activists at the meet felt that the poorest nations were short-changed and that the rich nations came out the winner – again. Several organizations, especially Non-Governmental entities protested but it remains to be seen what will ...

By Boaz Opio The campaign to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by the end of this century finally reached a point of no return when the world came together to sign climate agreement that spells the need for urgent action on global climate change. The deal means global energies will from now on be directed to transforming national energy trajectories ...

As we mark the international human rights day this year, Kenya and the rest of the world is mourning the death of the ‘Marsh Pride’ who were poisoned in the Mara. The death calls to mind the many deaths of wild animals that have died out of human-wildlife conflict the world over. But they also bring to mind the many ...

A doctor has ruled out any possibility of lead poisoning among residents of Thange village in Kibwezi, Makueni County affected by an oil spillage that contaminated water sources. Dr. Tom Bosire Menge a Chief Toxicologist based at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) assured the residents that the more than 400,000 litres of oil that seeped to River Thange and neighboring ...