The Alliance for Science and Network for African Women Environmentalists on Friday evening hosted women who empower their communities in 47 counties, for locally-led climate action.
Kenya is amongst the leading countries on the African continent embracing biotechnology and applying frontier innovations to increase productivity and improve food systems.
Dr Sheila Ochugboju, the Director of Alliance of Science said, during the event in Nairobi, women are at the frontline of agriculture and face head-on the challenges of climate change.
Ochugboju said the event will first celebrate a group of incredibly dynamic Kenyan women who are positively impacting lives in their communities.
“We want to shine a light on these “invisible” women because we believe that the world cannot prosper if women suffer,” said Ochugboju.
The negative effects of climate events, she said, are already felt in many areas, including agriculture and food security, biodiversity and ecosystems, water resources, human health, human settlements, migration patterns, energy, transport, and industry.
Therefore, she said, empowering women needs a holistic approach, it goes beyond one day or one celebration, it is only sustainable when you connect women and develop vibrant ecosystems that will allow them to grow and thrive.
“In our communities, various women have taken an initiative in engaging in resilient activities to improve their livelihoods and those of the community,” she said.
The event was attended by 49 women from all 47 counties in the country.
Ochugboju said many of these women, some from marginalised communities lack opportunities to amplify their engagements to the public.
In celebration of International Women’s Day and Month 2023, the Alliance for Science, through 4gotten Bottomillions, sent out a request for nominations of women from across the 47 counties who are engaging in finding local solutions for climate action and restoration of their degraded environments and landscapes.
“A rigorous vetting process was undertaken to shortlist the nominees where one member of each county was selected as having engaged in impactful socio-economic activities to bridge the gap on resilience,” said Rose Sang’ of 4gotten Bottomillions.
“This event also acts as a soft launch for the first NAWE publication titled Roots of Resilience: Wangari Maathai and the Revival of Karura Forest, which tells the story of the late Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai,” said Sang.
Sang said Prof Wangari had a passionate commitment to conserving and reviving Karura Forest and saved the valuable yet threatened ecosystem from encroachment.
She was a pioneer in promoting the popular understanding of the importance of preserving city forests and creating green spaces within cities for future generations to enjoy, Sang said.
The three organisations plan to launch a coffee table book on June 6th 2023, World Environment Day, as a milestone to the historic Climate Action Summit in Nairobi from September 4 - 6, 2023.
Some of the women honoured include Kajiado’s county agriculture minister Jacqueline Koin, Fridah Karimi (Embu), Teresia Wafula (Kajiado) and Beatrice Muganga (Kilifi).
"My intention is never to be awarded. My intention has always been to bring change within the community -- and that's why I dedicate this award to the community," said Koin after she was recognised.