The Wangari Mathai Foundation observed the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai’s birthday on Saturday, with a call to invest in the planet.
In a statement, foundation CEO Njeri Kabeberi, said, “Wangari literally invested her life from a young age in this planet. On this 1st of April as we celebrate the day God gave her to the world, and in the run-up to the International Mother Earth Day, let us begin to contemplate what each of us shall “Invest in the Planet”.”
Maathai died in 2011 at the age of 71.
Kabeberi emphasised the need for dialogue as Kenya experiences protests across the country.
“I am sure she would still be championing for peace across the globe with zeal and fervour, but even more importantly, she would be very concerned at what is currently happening in Kenya and her voice would have joined or be leading those calling for dialogue and for a peaceful solution to the challenges currently facing Kenya,” Kabeberi said.
She emphasised the critical impact of climate change and that more needs to be done to stop it being a threat to humanity.
“The climate consequences are already very much a present lived experience among African people. Across the continent, climate risk is exacerbating existing poverty and inequality, food insecurity, fragile ecosystems, and water scarcity,” Kabeberi said.
The Foundation will launch its second strategic plan this month on International Mother Earth Day with the theme ‘Invest in our planet’.
