Nobel Laureates Plant Trees Honoring Wangari Maathai

Kenya welcomed a group of Nobel laureates to commemorate and honor the late Professor Wangari Maathai during Africa Environment Day.
Professor Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 in recognition of her efforts toward sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
She was the first African woman to receive the prize and also the first environmentalist honored for establishing an environmental organization that continues to operate today – The Green Belt Movement.
The Nobel Women Initiative gathered on Tuesday at the Kenya Forest Environment Education Trust auditorium in Karura before proceeding to plant memorial trees at the Professor Wangari Maathai Center.
They encouraged environmental advocates to follow the example of the former cabinet minister during the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration and speak out about peace and environmental issues.
The international delegation, comprising participants from various countries, was hosted by the Kenya Forest Service, local environmentalists, and The Green Belt Movement.
Wanjira Maathai, chairperson of The Green Belt Movement and Wangari’s daughter, praised the event for acknowledging the persistent, brave, and dedicated work of her mother.
“We truly appreciate today’s event, which has reminded us of many things while also teaching us so much. We understand that voice is not the issue; silence is what harms us,” she stated.
Among the Nobel laureates present were Shirin Ebadi, Oleksandra Matriichuk, and Leymah Gbowee, among others.
Ebadi emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and advocating for it consistently.
She noted that peace ensures national unity regardless of people’s occupations.
The Nobel laureates also expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for his initiative to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, stating that the campaign will benefit the nation’s environment positively.