By Mary Mwendwa
Nairobi, Kenya: Respiratory diseases are not getting much attention in Nairobi City, hence robbing the lives of citizens in the County. Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja has said.
“These diseases don’t get as much attention as some of the more obvious problems Nairobi faces but they are, if anything, the more damaging for passing under the radar. They rob our children of years of school; they limit the productive lives of our adults; they kill many more people than you’d expect. Proper green building secures the long-term health of the city.” Sakaja said.
Governor Sakaja further added that one aspect of the changes to the quality of life in the city that green building gives us was critical in helping to fight respiratory diseases, “I wanted to emphasize it because it’s both vital and easy to miss. Let it remain in your memories; let it also stand for the quality of life that we must achieve for the people of Nairobi.” He affirmed.
The Economic Survey 2022 showed that 20,613,455 cases of respiratory diseases had been reported in Kenya as of December 2021. Further, recent official reports indicate that diseases affecting the respiratory system are the top ailments affecting Kenyans.
Governor Sakaja was speaking during a pre-Africa Climate Summit event that was held at a Nairobi hotel. The side event was hosted by the Kenya Green Building Society, in partnership with the Alliance for Science.
Governor Sakaja further added that there was a need for green construction, not just to meet Nairobi’s climate goals, but to grow the economy, and our resources.
“If we have young people in work building the sort of housing infrastructure that Nairobi needs to meet its climate commitments, then we’re also creating jobs, and we can expect more revenue. There is a vicious cycle available to us,” the governor said, adding that Nairobi City County has completed a preliminary IFC EDGE building assessment of his office, which they intend to certify in time for COP 28, “to make it the first IFC EDGE Green Government Building in Africa, if not the world.”
The focus of the pre-ACS event was not only on building sustainable cities but also on discussing how we can rehabilitate and regenerate Africa’s fastest-growing cities and contribute to the Nairobi Declaration which will be a crucial document for the Africa Climate Summit.
“It is an exciting time to be African, and in Africa, as we count down to the most important conversations and actions on climate,” said Nasra Nanda, the chief executive of Kenya Green Building Society.
“As Africans, we cannot afford to get it wrong, because climate action for us, is not just an environmental issue, it is a development issue, a dignity issue, an investment issue, and a fundamental human rights issue,” Nasra said.
“At the heart of it all, we have a growing population of young people who want to live, no, deserve, to live in an Africa, that thrives, an Africa we want, an Africa we are proud of, and, an Africa where no one is left behind.”
Nasra also said the KGBS is proud to partner with the Alliance for Science to bring the pre-ACS event to fruition.
The Executive Director of Alliance for Science Dr Sheila Ochugboju said that knew we’d be dealing with climate-related challenges many years later in Nairobi, Green City in the Sun and a place of cool waters.
“Science has played a key role in learning about how to prepare for the future that we want. After such knowledge, we cannot forgive ourselves for not taking action,” Dr Ochugboju said.
Dr John Chumo, the chief executive of MaMa Doing Good, said the discussion and efforts today to mobilize climate, carbon, and sustainable finance to build green and resilient cities for a better Africa is timely as the continent grapples with rapid urbanization.
The Pre-Africa Climate Summit (pre-ACS) event was a milestone gathering that set the stage for the Africa Climate Summit. Stakeholders, both local and regional, will converge to chart a path toward sustainable urbanization, green building practices, and environmental rehabilitation on the continent. The event represents Africa’s dedication to leading the way in climate action, and it invites all those concerned about the future of our planet to join the conversation.
The event also plays a crucial role in mobilizing sustainable finance and partnerships for the built environment. This is a key focus for the Kenya Green Building Society, as green buildings lead part of the broader Sustainable Urbanization and Infrastructure track for the Summit.
