Africa Speaking

Faith-Fueled Climate Action: Mwangaza Light's Holistic Approach to Energy Poverty and Environmental Stewardship In this episode, we hear from Pauline Mwangi, the Deputy CEO of Mwangaza Light a dynamic faith-based social enterprise driving climate action since 2018 across multiple Kenyan counties. Pauline illuminates their unique strategy of partnering with churches and mosques to embed climate sol...

Kibra's Green Guardians: A Nubian Youth Initiative Re-Greening Kibra for Climate Action We hear from Khalid Munir Mohamed of the Salama Youth CBO, a passionate leader from Kibra's Nubian community. He shares the history of his forefathers, who were resettled in Kibra after fighting for the British in World War II, establishing a community largely of Nubian origin in what was once a lush forest. Kh...

Beyond Kibera: How Community Action is Regenerating Rivers and Empowering Women In this second part, Malassen Hamida, describes their use of vertical gardens to boost food security in urban areas. She shares a fascinating technique of recycling grey water, including washing water, for farming, often with the addition of ash to further aid in this recycling process. She also narrates their successf...

Kibera's Green Heroes: How Women are Adapting to Climate Change In this episode, we hear from Malassen Hamida, the founder and chairperson of the Mazingira Women Initiative. The initiative focuses on environmental issues. Born in Kibera, Nairobi's informal settlement, Hamida narrates how she's deeply inspired by Wangari Maathai, a strong woman leader who campaigned for environmental care. She remi...

Inclusive Resilience: Policy, Practice, and Community in Climate-Smart Agriculture In this episode Wanjiru Mambo continues her discussion on climate change mitigation within the potato value chain, emphasizing the critical need for inclusivity for youth, people with disabilities, and women. She underscores the significant role women play, highlighting their active participation in farmer training...

Feeding a Nation Sustainably: Innovating for Climate Resilience in the Potato Value Chain This episode features Wanjiru Mambo, a successful entrepreneur in the potato food chain and the driving force behind Wedgehut Foods Limited, a thriving post-COVID business. Wanjiru discusses the potato industry's significant contribution to the Kenyan economy, approximately Kshs 50 billion, and its impact on...

Beyond Reintegration: How Formerly Incarcerated Women are Leading Waste-to-Energy Solutions In this episode, we hear from Cedric Alusa, Communications Manager at Clean Start Africa, and Jane Kiio, a remarkable rehabilitated woman who is now a 'Trainer of Trainers' with the organization. Cedric introduces Clean Start Africa as a social enterprise dedicated to rehabilitating and reintegrating former...

From Gangs to Green Solutions: How Youth are Driving Climate Adaptation in Mukuru kwa Reuben We meet Mitchel Wanja Kamau, a trained water engineer and a vital member of Kwa Reuben Ubuntu Community Based Organization in Mukuru kwa Reuben informal settlement. Mitchel explains how this CBO emerged from reformed gang members who sought to counter the exploitative use of youth for political goals. She...

The Sacred Connection: How Traditional Healers Are Safeguarding Plants and Knowledge for Climate-Resilient Health In this part of discussion, Dr. Lydia Matoke expands on best practices rooted in traditional wisdom, highlighting the nutritional and medicinal benefits of indigenous foods like sorghum and millet. She emphasizes their dual role in mitigating chronic diseases while simultaneously contr...

The Vanishing Herbs: Dr. Lydia Matoke on Indigenous Healing and Climate Threats In this compelling first episode, we delve into the world of Dr. Lydia Matoke, a highly respected traditional healer whose connection to herbal medicine stems from a rich family lineage of healers, including a grandfather who was a surgeon. She shares her unique journey, blending indigenous knowledge passed down from h...

Unlocking Bamboo's Future: How Bamboo Cultivation is Paving the Way for Climate Adaptation and Economic Empowerment In this episode, Laura Koech unravels the reasons behind the limited popularity of bamboo farming in Kenya. She attributes this to a potential disconnect from the indigenous knowledge that once surrounded bamboo, coupled with past depletion of the resource. Laura also shares her pers...

Kenya's Green Gold: Laura Koech on Bamboo's Untapped Potential for Climate Resilience Laura Koech, a Yale University alumna, shares her inspiring journey into the world of bamboo, sparked by its innovative use in construction which she witnessed in China. Getting in touch with a bamboo expert at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), further set her ambition to unlock the potential of this...

Lessons from the Ground: Ernest Chitechi on Gender, Youth, and Policy Integration in Climate Action In our continuing conversation with Ernest Chitechi, we explore some of the outstanding innovations fostered by KCIC. He highlights unique enterprises such as the KOKO network, Power Hive, Power Gen, Hydroponic Africa, Sunergy, Kings Biofuel, and Exotic EPZ, demonstrating the diverse range of climat...

In the first part of this two-part series, we speak with Ernest Chitechi about the crucial role of the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) in shaping the climate change financing landscape. KCIC stands as a leading incubator and accelerator in Africa, part of a global network dedicated to catalysing climate entrepreneurship. The centre strategically identifies and supports Small and Medium-size...

Funding the Future: Unlocking Green Finance and Best Practices for Climate Resilience in Kenya In this episode, Dr. Kibet examines the crucial role of legislation and financing in strengthening climate resilience. He shares with us that while many counties have climate policies, their impact is limited by a lack of financial backing from both county and national governments, hindering investments...

Empowering Change: How Education, Enterprise, and Gender Equity Drive Climate Mitigation In the third part Dr. Kibet focuses on the crucial roles of learning institutions and businesses in fostering climate change resilience. He points out that the current school system has overlooked the wealth of traditional knowledge and advises that universities have a significant role to play in bridging this...

Cultural Wisdom for Climate Resilience: Dr. Kibet on Agro-Biodiversity and Traditional Practices In the second part of our conversation with Dr. Staline Kibet, we learn how cultural practices contribute to agro-biodiversity, using the example of the Njahi bean, whose cultural significance in ceremonies has ensured its survival with minimal genetic modification, in contrast to heavily bred crops li...

Bridging Knowledge Systems: Dr. Staline Kibet on Climate Adaptation in Kenya's Forests In this first episode, Dr. Staline Kibet, navigates the crucial connection of scientific and indigenous knowledge in our efforts to adapt to climate change. The conversation centers on the vital Eburu forest and the complex relationship between people and this natural resource, highlighting its economic, social,...

Kamoji Wachira, an environmental expert working globally, reveals the urgent transition from understanding climate change to recognizing the current climate emergency. He explores the consequences of soil erosion and emphasizes the critical need for proactive environmental management to ensure durability. He emphasizes the increasing impacts of the climate emergency across Africa, including accele...

The constitution making process in Kenya

The Process of constitution making in Kenya

The Constitution making process in Kenya

Prof Ng’ang’a Wahu Muchiri explains his background and transition from Engineering to the rich field of Literature. He describes the connection of land in development, Identity in Africa and spirituality. Prof Ng’ang’a Muchiri introduces the answer Literature and performances as an answer to resolving land disputes away from field related Technical solutions and disciplines. Prof Ng’ang’a Wahu Muc...

This is the second part our podcast with Prof. Ng’ang’a Wahu Muchiri who celebrates African’s diversity in population, language, culture and Diaspora as a tool to uphold innovation and strength to recall the cultural heritage from the Western countries. He challenges African writers and intellectuals and those in the diaspora to exploit literature as a tool for knowledge creation through the diver...

Zarina Patel, a Kenyan South Asian woman, has made significant contributions to various social and political movements in Kenya. She followed in the footsteps of Makhan Singh, the father of trade unionism in Kenya, and authored his biography. She also worked closely with trade unionists and labor activists to promote workers' rights and improve their working conditions. Zarina's diverse contributi...