At the heart of the city along Nairobi and Ngong rivers, a quiet revolution is taking place.
The revolution, driven by one woman’s relentless commitment, is breathing life back into the environment.
Rebecca Bor’s passion and unwavering commitment to the environment and society have been the key drivers.
Bor is a former hospitality worker at the Tana and Athi River Development Authority.
The winds of change would, however, blow her towards a lifelong passion for environmental conservation, protection and restoration.
Bor cleans up Nairobi and Ngong rivers and also plants trees. Her resolute has not only transformed the landscapes of riparian lands, but also earned her a recognition as one of the most influential figures in environmental conservation.
Born and raised in Sigot village, Nandi county, Bor’s journey is rooted in her upbringing.
Her father Korigo Bor and mother Grace Bor were ardent supporters of environmental conservation and humanitarian initiatives.
After graduating from the Kenya Utalii College in 1989, she worked as a housekeeper at TARDA’s Masinga Dam Resort.
Her knack for advancement would, however, see her enrol at the Kenya Methodist University for a Degree in Business Administration (marketing option).
This move would set the stage for her next career leap. Her hard work and determination paid off when she was promoted to a marketing officer and transferred to TARDA’s headquarters in Nairobi.
But it wasn’t until her transfer to the Starehe subcounty office, due to health concerns, that her deep love for the environment began to fully blossom.
The love for nature also offered the much-needed therapy for her illness.
Tasked with the responsibility of coordinating environmental conservation initiatives across the subcounty, she started restoration initiatives.
This was a challenging task since Starehe is a concrete jungle with several riverine communities and street families.
“I immediately started rehabilitating riparian lands along Nairobi and Ngong rivers, a role I have undertaken with enthusiasm,” she says.
Under her leadership, more than 10,000 trees have been planted along the riverbank since 2015.
A number of riparian lands have also been restored, providing cleaner water and greener spaces for Nairobi residents.
Her work on riparian areas saw her come face to face with street families and their struggles.
This saw her compassion go beyond environmental work to supporting them.
In 2018, she forged a partnership with Source Solution Integrated Program, an organisation focused on supporting street families and she introduced holistic approaches to solve their problems.
The approaches included integration, sensitisation and awareness and creation of value addition of waste around Nairobi rivers.
SUPPORTING STREET FAMILIES
At the time, many did not understand the nexus between street families and waste management in regards to river regeneration efforts.
Bor says the ecosystem is not just about nature, but more about people who live and thrive within it.
She sold the rehabilitation idea to some of her colleagues who also offered to buy meals and clothes for the street families.
“We feed and rehabilitate street families and give them clothes and they in turn help to clean up the river, take care of tree nurseries and also plant trees,” Bor says.
Bor, who also serves in the Nairobi Rivers Commission, also mentors young environmental champions by impacting skills in waste management and green jobs.
She has collaborated with tertiary institutions such as University of Nairobi (Faculty of Engineering), Strathmore University, University College of London, Catholic University of Eastern Africa and Tangaza University.
University College of London’s lead researcher Alina Marm is helping implement the Taka bora, Maisha Bora project.
Bor is currently incorporating new technologies such as seed balls in he work. She has since planted about 2 million trees across Kenya.
The former hospitality worker is also supporting vulnerable and marginalised groups such as persons with disability.
Bor does this by providing assistive devices such as walking aides, hearing aids, mobility carts and wheelchairs.
She also gives cool boxes for those who need to start small businesses across the country.
“All this is done in exchange for conservation efforts along the rivers, schools, forests and advocating for a cleaner, greener environment in different ecosystems,” Bor says.
Her legacy is one of hope, resilience and a powerful reminder that when we nurture the earth, it, in turn, flourishes and nourishes us in abundance.
Bor is among the 10 nominees for the Star Person of the Year.
The award is a sought-after fete which recognises an individual or leader whose consistent work has impacted people positively.
It is also recognises ordinary people or opinion shapers who have done the most within the year to positively influence lives.
The paper has been running the awards since 2018. The awards committee outlined four beacons to guide in nominating and choosing the winner.
The selected awardee must have been engaging in activities to make Kenya or their community a better place.
Must have greatly inspired or helped fellow citizens. He or she must have invented a solution that has dramatically changed lives and the person with the qualities of honesty and integrity.
The public was encouraged to nominate a person working to engender good governance and social justice.
This has been a historic year in its own right, especially in areas of governance, rule of law and constitutionalism.
The Star political editor Felix
Olick, who also chairs the award’s
committee, asked Kenyans to nominate the best.
