For a long time youths have been perceived to shy away from “dirty work” of farming and environmental conservation as it’s viewed as less attractive.
Not Sankara Nyagaya.
The Kajiado-based climate change and land rights activist describes himself as “very passionate about environment and ecosystem conservation.”
He uses art to inspire youths to roll back their sleeves and extract wealth from land and conserve the environment.
Nyagaya believes that while pro-environment messaging targeting adults is the norm, focusing on children is the game changer as it instils the idea that environment is to be nurtured and conserved, rather than exploited.
“I give early childhood education on sustainable mitigation and adaptation of climate change in primary schools through Kenya Forest Club,” he adds.
“Besides giving education and creating awareness about climate change together with members of the club, we implement adaptation and mitigation measures such as tree planting [and] proper waste management," Nyagaya said.
“We also teach and advocate for renewable energy, teach and implement climate smart agriculture protection and farming of the bees and other insects. “I love to use art as a medium of teaching and creating awareness because it helps me pass on the message easily. I also try to create employment and economic opportunity to fellow youths through the green economy.”
Though he has been an environmental campaigner for years, his attending of one-week long human rights defender academy organised by Defenders Coalition in December last year ignited a different fire in him.
He interacted with activists, championing different issues in the rural communities and got inspired to keep going.
“I went in thinking I was just going to learn about environmental rights, but what I left with was so much more,” he said.
“The focus on mental health and well-being for human rights defenders, along with the training on cybersecurity, made me realise how important it is to protect not just the land, but myself and my work.”
In a conversation with Defenders Coalition shared exclusively with the Star, Nyagaya said he has always been passionate about the environment, but after spending time at the academy, he became even more determined to lead.
From risking his life in leading protests against abuse of land and forests, to ramping up civic education among early childhood education centres about climate change, the dreadlocked man is on fire.
“It wasn’t easy, but the training I received on environmental rights and the support from my community gave me the strength to stand up, speak out and organise.”
The annual academy that culminates in the human rights defenders award equips activists from various fields with skills on self-care and physical and digital safety.
The academy also equips them with mental health awareness, networking and organising skills amid a spate of police brutality against human rights campaigners.
Nyagaya said the 2023 sessions was an eye opener and paved way for creating allies with whom he has partnered to champion his cause.
He said shortly after the going through the academy, he partnered with Sophie Adhiambo from
Natural Justice, whom he had met
during the Climate Justice sessions
at the same academy.