“Love your City, Clean your River”
: 100 Kenyan Youth Take Action for Peace Through Environmental Efforts by Cleaning the Nairobi River
On February 21 in Nairobi, Kenya, the HWPL Kenya branch and the Nairobi City County Government jointly held an environmental campaign titled “Cleaning for Peace: Love your City, Clean your River.” Around 100 youth volunteers participated, putting into practice the values of environmental protection and peace by cleaning heavily polluted areas along the Nairobi River.
On this day, the youth wore gloves and boots and carried out river clean-up activities by collecting plastics and other waste discarded around the river. The Nairobi River, which has long suffered from urban waste and industrial pollution, is now seeing renewed attention through this activity, with growing interest and participation from the local community.
Sharon Kibet, a member of the HWPL Kenya branch who helped organize the event, stated, “This activity goes beyond simply cleaning the river; it represents reclaiming our responsibility. A clean environment is the foundation for protecting the pride and health of our community, and such actions are the starting point for building sustainable peace.”
Participants also emphasized that the environmental actions of the youth can bring positive change to the community. Hilda Njeri Nakupuna, an environmental officer at Nairobi City County, said, “I am very pleased to see young people taking the lead in acting for peace and environmental protection. We are working together to keep the Nairobi River clean. Pollution worsens flooding and climate change issues, so the younger generation must be part of the solution.”
In addition, Anthony Gatonga, Program Officer of Youth Initiative Kenya(YIKE), stated, “We must first create peace within ourselves, and I believe that peace will eventually spread throughout the world. We no longer want to see this river, the lifeline of our city, being treated like a dumping site. This river is part of our lives. By keeping it clean, we are sending a message that we demand a better environment for our own health and for future generations.”
This activity was carried out based on the spirit of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), a peace principle proposed by HWPL. It was also conducted as part of IPYG’s Youth Empowerment Peace Workshop (YEPW) program, serving as a platform for young adults to directly participate in solving community issues. The event was introduced nationwide in Kenya through the national broadcaster KBC and private broadcasters such as KTN.
This Nairobi River clean-up activity is scheduled to continue on a monthly basis. Through youth-led environmental volunteer work, the initiative is expected to expand community participation and continue the practice of peace, while contributing to the realization of the values of Articles 8, 9, and 10 of the DPCW and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
