“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children,” she said. “Children are the living messages you send to a time you will not see.”
As the founder and CEO of the Karen Forte Environmental Conservation Foundation, Karen has become one of Kenya’s most inspiring young environmental voices. Her foundation leads child-centered initiatives focused on tree planting, environmental education, and youth advocacy.
Now, she’s urging African governments and institutions to go beyond listening and take action.
Karen’s passion for the environment started early. “Each year on my birthday, I plant trees equal to my age,” she said. “And it’s not just about the number, it’s about growing something meaningful with my friends, something that will outlive us.”
Through programs such as Inter-School Tree Growing and Trees for Birthdays, her foundation has planted over 18,000 trees in schools and public spaces across Kenya. With support from former Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, Karen set up her first nursery. Today, she runs two nurseries, the second located in Ngong, granted by the government.
“We visit schools, form environmental clubs, and appoint child ambassadors,” she explained. “But we also mentor each other to care for the trees. This is how we build long-term change.”
Karen’s foundation now counts over 400 active members, all between the ages of 3 and 18. She has represented Kenya on international platforms and is currently seeking support to attend a prestigious environmental competition in Dubai, and later COP30, where she hopes to represent African children and their environmental concerns on the global stage.
Her appeal is clear:
- Involve children in climate decision-making
- Include child-led initiatives in national climate budgets
- Fund and mentor young environmental leaders
Karen’s Parents have been a constant source of encouragement, but they also understand the systemic barriers many families face.
“Karen’s passion started at four years old,” said her mother “As parents, we have supported her every step of the way. But not all parents can afford to. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s that resources are limited.”
She called on government institutions, partners, and donors to remove age-based restrictions on grants and platforms. “Children have ideas. They have passion. All they need is access.”
Karen’s voice was one of many at the Clean Air Forum 2025, a landmark event held in Nairobi that brought together participants from over 35 African countries. Under the theme “Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions”, the forum is now the largest and most inclusive platform for air quality dialogue on the continent.
“The fight against air pollution is not just about protecting children, it is a collective effort from researchers, medical professionals, environmental experts, policymakers, and every member of society.”
Environmental experts, policymakers, youth, civic leaders, researchers, and civil society gathered to share insights, data, and practical solutions to one of Africa’s most pressing yet underreported health challenges: air pollution.
“Air pollution is not just an environmental issue, it’s a child health crisis,” said Dr. Justus Simba, Paediatrician and National Vice Chair of the Kenya Paediatric Association during the forum.
“Children exposed to polluted air especially those living near major roads or using solid fuels in informal settlements face a higher risk of respiratory illnesses like asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease.
Evidence from studies like ACACIA and PUMAS shows that where a child lives, studies, and what they breathe every day directly affects their health, development, and even their DNA.
We need to connect existing data, push for policy changes, and address social disadvantage because the poorer you are, the higher your exposure.
“We started this journey in Kampala in 2019, then moved to Lagos, and now Nairobi,” said George Mwaniki, Country Director for the World Resources Institute (WRI) Kenya and head of WRI’s air quality program across Africa. “Every year, this forum grows stronger because of the partnerships that drive it.”
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is linked to more than 6 million deaths globally each year. In Africa, the impact is compounded by limited regulation, scarce data, and a lack of public awareness.
“In 2019, only two or three African countries had air quality laws. Today, over 15 do, including Kenya. Forums like this are accelerating that progress through peer learning.”
He highlighted vehicle emissions and open waste burning, including medical waste, as major contributors to urban pollution.
“In Nairobi, hospitals are still burning gloves, food waste, linens and even expired drugs,” Mwaniki noted. “These practices release toxins into the air and increase antimicrobial resistance.”
Despite budget constraints, Kenya has made notable strides. Fuel standards have improved, sulfur content in fuel has dropped from 50 ppm to 10 ppm, and the country is progressing toward Euro 5/6 vehicle emission standards.
In Nairobi, specific milestones include:
- A city-specific Air Quality Policy
- Drafting of actionable regulations
- Installation of 36 air quality monitoring stations, both high-end and low-cost
“Nairobi is our test case,” Mwaniki said. “If we can get it right here, we can replicate the model in cities like Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.”
Also contributing to the forum was Professor Engineer Bainomugisha, creator of AirQo, a Uganda-based platform that uses locally built sensors to monitor air quality.
“Air is invisible,” he said. “By the time you feel its effects, it’s already hurting your body.”
Developed at Makerere University, AirQo now operates in cities such as Kampala, Accra, Lagos, and Nairobi, providing real-time, hyperlocal air quality data via mobile apps and government websites.
“In Nairobi, we see huge differences between neighborhoods,” Bainomugisha explained. “Downtown areas are heavily polluted during rush hour, while places like Gigiri remain cleaner.”
He noted that off-the-shelf sensors from the Global North often failed in Africa’s dusty, hot environments, prompting his team to develop custom sensors tailored for local conditions.
“But data alone is not enough,” he added. “We need policy action, investment in clean transport, and public education. Clean air isn’t a luxury, it’s a right.”
Representing Nairobi County, Hon. Ibrahim Nyangoya Auma, the County Executive Committee Member for Environment, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “You cannot manage what you cannot measure,” he said, referencing the Nairobi Air Quality Act (2022) and the city’s move toward open-access air quality data.
Auma outlined plans to integrate air quality into broader urban planning, especially through e-mobility and non-motorized transport. “Governments cannot act alone,” he said. “We need researchers, private sector players, civil society, and especially youth voices like Karen’s at the decision-making table.”
“Let’s collaborate boldly. Let’s invest in homegrown innovations. And let’s act urgently. The cost of inaction both human and economic is far too high.”
As the forum wrapped up, one message echoed across every session: clean air is a shared responsibility. “We take about 20,000 breaths a day,” said Bainomugisha. “If we gave the same attention to the air we breathe as we do the food we eat, we’d all live longer, healthier lives.”
For Karen Wanjiru Kimani, the mission is clear and urgent. “We, the children, are not just future leaders. We are today’s change-makers,” she said. “And we are ready.
By Victoria Masaya, Member, AMWIK