HOME CITY

Everyone has a place they long to return to, regardless of the length of their absence, whether for professional duties or further studies. This place is where you feel most connected to the culture, norms, and way of life, and where you can truly be yourself. It's a place you know will always have your best interests at heart. We all want to see this place thrive and improve, and we cherish the value we receive from it. This place is called HOME.

"Charity begins at home" is a well-known saying, but how can we apply it to protect our cherished spaces? In this article, I will share a case study of my hometown, Kitale, where my passion for environmental protection and conservation was born. This passion grew in my home county, Trans Nzoia, which is home to two of Kenya's five water towers: Cherangany Hills and Mt Elgon. The county is located in the highland region of the Rift Valley and the western part of the country. Known as the "food basket" of Kenya, it contributes more than 50% of the national production of maize/corn, which is a staple food in the country. It is also home to various streams and rivers, including River Nzoia, which is the mouth of Lake Victoria. Additionally, the county has the Saiwa National Park, the smallest national park in Kenya, which is home to the endangered Sitatunga species and various bird species, including the famous crane.

The preservation of our environment is crucial, given its rich biodiversity. Conservation activities are a key goal in this regard, aimed at protecting humans, wildlife species, and habitats, to promote a conservationist mindset and foster peaceful cohabitation. Various stakeholders are involved in conservation measures, including community members residing near natural resources who are directly affected by their degradation leading to reduced farm yields or increased human-wildlife conflicts. Interest groups, such as youth and women groups, community-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations, have all attracted support from national and international organizations. This has prompted the county and national governments to prioritize the management and protection of resources, such as the environment, wildlife, water resources, forestry, and meteorology.

During my first year of pursuing a Bachelor's degree, I had the opportunity to intern at the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). This experience allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, as well as other environmental regulations that are in place to safeguard our environmental resources. I became particularly interested in the regulatory role of protecting the environment. These regulations are fundamental for conducting environmental, social, and health impact assessments, as well as yearly audits to guarantee that development activities do not negatively impact our environment. Compliance with these regulations is crucial, especially in situations where human activities are depleting resources while attempting to fulfill their needs and desires.

The growth of environmental degradation over the years has sparked my interest in being a part of conservation groups that focus on the restoration of natural resources. Deforestation, encroachment of wetlands and riparian land, and settlement in natural resource jurisdictions are some of the main causes of degradation that these groups are working to combat.

The non-governmental organizations have made commendable efforts in reclaiming various resources. Tree planting has been a popular activity in all areas of the county, spearheaded by community groups who have set up tree nurseries. By extension, these nurseries have become a source of income for them.

The county government has made efforts to involve active stakeholders in legislative activities such as drafting the county Climate Change Act, county climate change finance bill, and county climate change action plan, which are crucial to the country's action plan. Through these interactions and network arrangements, a sense of belonging is created, which motivates people to sacrifice resources to restore and conserve the environment. This non-manipulative approach ensures that everyone is involved and that all stakeholders share the push to conserve the environment.

It's important to empower homeowners to take care of their homes and help them thrive sustainably. By understanding their needs, approaches, and solutions, we can achieve the goals of projects and programs that aim to improve the environment and livelihoods in the long run.

Environmental restoration requires collaboration from all stakeholders. Community members play a crucial role in monitoring activities on the ground and should cooperate with the authorities to bring culprits who destroy natural resources to justice. The government should also work with other agencies and non-governmental organizations to initiate education programs, raise awareness, and sensitize the community on environmentally friendly activities that can be undertaken to avoid damaging natural resources. When we all work together just as my hometown is doing, we achieve a lot of benefits.

The vernacular media stations should air environmental awareness programs, and conduct interviews at least once a week to allow sustainability experts to share their knowledge with the community.

A call for supporting non-governmental stakeholders and recognizing their efforts should also be made by supporting agencies including national NGOs and international organizations.

Nehemiah 2:17

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”