Katiba Institute marked this year’s Mazingira Day by joining other institutions including the Media Council of Kenya and the Association of Journalists in Samburu at the Maralal GK Prison, Samburu. The exercise, led by the Maralal GK Prison’s Head, Justus Akanyinya, saw the planting of over 300 trees.

Every person has the right to a clean and healthy environment. The Constitution calls on every person to protect and conserve the environment and ensure ecologically sustainable development. It also highlights government obligations in this regard.

Article 69 of the Constitution calls on the state to ensure sustainable exploitation, utilisation, management and conservation of the environment and natural resources, and ensure the equitable sharing of the accruing benefit. It also encourages the involvement of the people in conserving the environment.

“The state shall encourage public participation in the management, protection and conservation of the environment.” Article 69 (d)

In addition, Article 69(2) highlights citizen’s duty to conserve the environment:

“Every person has a duty to cooperate with State organs and other persons to protect and conserve the environment and ensure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources.”

Further, Article 70 outlines the enforcement of environmental rights. “If a person alleges that a right to a clean and healthy environment recognised and protected under Article 42 has been, is being or is likely to be, denied, violated, infringed or threatened, the person may apply to a court for redress in addition to any other legal remedies that are available in respect to the same matter.”

Mazingira Day is marked on October 10 to promote environmental awareness and encourage tree-planting activities. The holiday aligns with the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme, which aims to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land by 2032.

This activity complements the government’s ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.