Environment is the natural habitat of mankind and all other species on earth and it should be protected at all costs, for it is where we all meet, and is the one thing that all of us share.
The Late Professor Wangari Mathai, once said that environment and economy are two sides of the same coin. If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves. Her words have now become a reality, as the adverse effects of climate change in our country, have led to high costs of living, extremely high food prices, with majority of Kenyans now unable to afford basic needs, whereas many are living below the poverty mark, now more than ever.
This can be attributed to climate change effects, like unpredictable rainfall patterns, drought and famine. Most maize farmers in the country have not made any sustainable harvest as a result. Being a staple food in Kenya, its scarcity is a clear indication of hunger and starvation, that most Kenyans are facing.
There is a definite correlation between climate change and the economy. Therefore as citizens, we have a collective responsibility of ensuring that we engage in practices that are environmentally friendly, like planting more trees to avoid deforestation. We should also embrace the use of clean energy like solar, which reduces air pollution.
Article 42 of the Kenyan Constitution 2010, guarantees the right to a clean and healthy environment and requires the environment to be protected for present and future generations, while Article 70, reinforces the right to clean and a healthy environment, and provides a means of enforcement action and compensation for the deprivation of this right.
We therefore have a duty to exercise our constitutional right by respecting the environment, nurturing it and creating awareness on the most pressing environmental issues and mitigation.