The Third Edition of the First Lady’s Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) in Nakuru County brought together Kenya’s youngest environmental champions in a celebration of creativity, innovation, and commitment to a cleaner, greener nation.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, who joined First Lady Rachel Ruto at the ceremony, said the awards demonstrate the growing environmental awareness among young Kenyans and the crucial role of education in shaping sustainable national values.
“The creativity and passion of Kenya’s young minds at the FLAMA Awards show that our environment is in dedicated hands,” said Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.
“The response to these awards is evidently incredible, with over 2,400 entries from young people across the nation, a powerful testament to a future brimming with hope.”
Held under the theme “End Pollution, Conserve the Environment,” the awards seek to inspire behavioural change through art, innovation, and community action among students and youth groups across the country.
The initiative forms part of the First Lady’s broader environmental advocacy efforts that align with Kenya’s climate action strategy and the 15 billion tree-planting programme led by President William Ruto.
Miano said the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife recognises the value of such initiatives in strengthening Kenya’s tourism brand, noting that environmental sustainability underpins the country’s long-term competitiveness as a destination.
“The Ministry recognizes the vital role such initiatives have in the tourism sector, hence our reassured commitment to keep FLAMA going,” she said.
She added that national development must integrate environmental responsibility at every level, describing conservation as both a patriotic duty and an economic imperative.
“‘End Pollution, Conserve the Environment’ is more than a theme; it’s a shared duty and a profound act of patriotism. We are the Mazingira Champions whose creativity will shape the future of our environment well beyond our borders,” said Miano.
The awards attracted submissions from across Kenya, spanning visual art, essays, innovation projects, and community-based environmental activities.
Judges noted an increase in the quality and originality of entries, reflecting how young people are increasingly linking environmental protection to economic opportunity and national identity.
Miano commended teachers and mentors for their role in nurturing environmental consciousness among learners.
“We salute the teachers and partners who serve as the bridge between knowledge and action, laying the foundation for a greener, more sustainable Kenya,” she said.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, who hosted the event, said the county remains committed to supporting youth-led climate and conservation initiatives, calling FLAMA a model of how community engagement can drive national environmental policy.
The FLAMA initiative, launched by the Office of the First Lady in 2021, continues to expand its reach across schools and youth organisations, encouraging practical solutions to pollution, waste management, and tree planting.
As the awards concluded, Miano urged Kenyans to carry forward the momentum beyond the ceremony. “Let’s heed the call—Komesha Uchafuzi, Hifadhi Mazingira!” she said, reaffirming the Ministry’s partnership with the First Lady’s office in advancing environmental restoration and green growth.
The 2025 edition of FLAMA reaffirmed a growing movement led by Kenya’s youth, one that positions creativity, innovation, and community action at the heart of the country’s environmental transformation.
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