Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Ageng’o has called on schools, parents, county governments and the private sector to strengthen environmental conservation efforts, saying lasting change must begin with children and young people.

Speaking during the launch of the fourth edition of the First Lady’s Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) in Miritini, Mombasa, on Friday, October 9, 2026, Ageng’o said environmental protection requires collective responsibility and practical action beyond government policies and regulations.

“The multi-sectoral character of FLAMA demonstrates an important truth: environmental conservation is everybody’s responsibility,” she said.

Ageng’o commended First Lady Rachel Ruto for championing the initiative, which promotes environmental conservation, climate action, creativity and innovation among learners.

She said the awards provide an important platform for integrating environmental education into schools, homes and communities, helping young people understand environmental challenges and develop solutions.

“The question before our generation is therefore not whether we should conserve our environment. The question is: What are we doing today to ensure that future generations inherit a healthy, productive and sustainable Kenya?” she posed.

Calls for practical environmental action

The Principal Secretary said Kenya’s natural resources, including forests, rivers, wetlands, wildlife, oceans and beaches, support livelihoods and economic activities but face growing threats from deforestation, pollution, land degradation, water scarcity and climate change.

She called for environmental education to translate into practical initiatives such as school tree nurseries, rainwater harvesting, school gardens, recycling, energy conservation and active environmental clubs.

“If we want a greener and more resilient Kenya, we must cultivate environmental consciousness early and transform knowledge into action,” Ageng’o said.

She added that the success of FLAMA should not be measured only by the number of entries received or awards presented, but also by tangible environmental improvements in schools and communities.

“It should be measured by the trees that survive, rivers and water sources that are protected, waste that is diverted from our environment, innovations that are developed and communities whose environmental practices change,” she said.

Mombasa’s coastal environment in focus

Ageng’o said Mombasa was an appropriate location for the launch because the Coast demonstrates the close relationship between environmental conservation, livelihoods and economic prosperity.

She noted that marine ecosystems support fisheries, tourism, transport and other economic activities, while mangrove forests protect coastlines, provide breeding grounds for marine life and strengthen climate resilience.

However, she warned that pollution, plastic waste, habitat destruction and climate change continue to threaten these ecosystems.

“Waste does not simply disappear. It travels. It accumulates. And eventually, it affects our ecosystems, our livelihoods and our economy,” she said, calling for responsible waste management and reduced plastic pollution.

She also urged schools and communities to move beyond tree planting and embrace long-term care for seedlings.

“Planting is an activity. Growing is a commitment,” she said, encouraging participants to adopt the principle of “Plant, Nurture and Protect.”

Children urged to become climate champions

The Principal Secretary emphasised that children should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of environmental programmes but as active participants in conservation.

At the State Department for Children Services, she said, children’s participation remains important in ensuring they can express their views, contribute ideas and take part in decisions affecting their lives and communities.

“We must listen to them. We must learn from their creativity. We must support their innovations. And we must give them opportunities to participate meaningfully in conservation,” she said.

Ageng’o challenged learners to take responsibility for environmental protection in their everyday activities, including planting trees, conserving water, avoiding littering and inspiring others to protect nature.

“Do not wait to become leaders before you protect the environment. You are already leaders,” she told the learners.

She added that environmental degradation has direct implications for children’s welfare, noting that drought, floods, polluted water and declining livelihoods can disrupt their health, education and overall wellbeing.

“A healthy environment is therefore one of the foundations upon which children can grow, learn and thrive,” she said.

FLAMA expands school participation

Arnold Kipchumba, Director of Environment and Livelihoods at the Office of the First Lady, said the awards provide learners in primary and junior schools with a platform to express their understanding of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss through art, essay writing and poetry.

“Since then, FLAMA has given learners in primary and junior schools a platform to express, through art, essay writing and poetry, what climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss mean to them, and what they would do about it,” Kipchumba said.

He noted that the programme goes beyond recognising winners, with participants encouraged to become environmental champions in their schools and communities.

Kipchumba cited the example of Sasha Chepkoech Ng’eny, who planted her first tree at the age of five and has since participated in school tree-planting initiatives and written a book about her journey.

He said the programme seeks to identify and nurture young environmental advocates from across Kenya’s 47 counties.

According to Elizabeth Koskei, Chief Executive Officer of Joyful Women Organization, FLAMA participation has grown significantly since its launch in 2023, when 500 schools took part, compared with 3,500 schools in the previous edition.

Koskei urged teachers and head teachers to continue mobilising learners through 4K and Environment Clubs, encouraging creativity and practical environmental responsibility.

“Climate action can sometimes sound like something too big for an ordinary person to do. But it begins with very ordinary choices,” she said, citing tree planting, proper waste disposal, water and electricity conservation, and recycling as actions learners can embrace.

New timeline for the awards

Kipchumba said the organisers had adjusted the FLAMA calendar to give learners more time to develop their entries and align the competition with the school calendar.

School registration on the FLAMA portal, www.flama.go.ke, opens immediately after the launch. Learners are expected to begin submitting entries in January 2027, with submissions closing in April.

The winners are scheduled to be celebrated in June 2027, coinciding with the month in which World Environment Day is observed.

The awards welcome creative submissions in English and Kiswahili, as well as Braille and Kenyan Sign Language, supporting the participation of learners with diverse abilities.

Kipchumba called on schools across the country, including special schools, special units and inclusive schools, to register and participate.

Stakeholders urged to support FLAMA

Ageng’o called on schools and teachers to integrate environmental action into everyday learning, parents to reinforce responsible practices at home, and county governments to support community conservation and young environmental innovators.

She also urged the private sector to invest in green innovation, recycling, renewable energy and environmental education, while calling on development partners, civil society and the media to support conservation initiatives and highlight environmental champions.

“As Government, we remain committed to working with the Office of the First Lady and all stakeholders to advance a cleaner, greener, healthier and more resilient Kenya,” she said.

The initiative is supported by partners including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Primary School Heads Association, the Kenya National Union of Teachers, NCBA Group and Kenya Pipeline Company.

Koskei thanked NCBA for supporting learners through the opening of 38 junior savings accounts, linking financial awareness with the importance of investing in the future. She also acknowledged Kenya Pipeline Company for providing mangrove seedlings and the Kenya Forest Service for identifying and preparing the planting site.

The launch was held ahead of Mazingira Day, marked annually on October 10, under the theme “Mazingira Yetu, Jukumu Letu” — Our Environment, Our Responsibility.

Ageng’o concluded by urging Kenyans to take collective responsibility for protecting the environment for future generations.

“Because the environment we protect today is the inheritance we bequeath to generations yet unborn,” she said.