Mandera Green Revolution: How an ambitious greening programme earned county global award

For years, Mandera County has been criticised for its hot sun and dust, earning it the nickname "Busley". However, this image is changing, courtesy of an ambitious tree-planting programme that has increased the town's tree cover and earned it a global award.

The Greening Programme has transformed Mandera from a once dusty, rugged town into a green, liveable hub.

The county submitted its entry into the annual "Future Green City World Congress" and was shortlisted among three finalists in the "Living Green for Climate Change" category, competing against Melbourne and Liverpool, both in the United Kingdom. Mandera was the only African city among all the entries.

On Wednesday night, Mandera was declared the winner in its category, making it a model for other African cities looking to increase tree cover in arid and semi-arid areas in the fight against climate change.

"Where we are coming from is a stark contrast between how Mandera looked before the programme and how it looks now. Our victory is not just a win; it's a statement that, despite being in Africa, in Kenya’s extreme North, an area considered arid and semi-arid, we have persevered and built something meaningful as a county. This is a testament to our resilience in mitigating climate change," said Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif.

The event aims to inspire cities worldwide to take actions that can help them cope with the effects of climate change, making them more liveable.

For Mandera, the journey to winning the prestigious award was long and costly. The programme was initiated by former Governor Ali Roba, with the current governor, then serving as County Speaker, continuing the project after assuming leadership in 2022.

"There are several ideas behind the programme. One is climate change mitigation, another is to improve the area’s image by addressing the 'Busley' nickname, and thirdly, it provides a source of income for unemployed women. About 1,200 vulnerable families now rely on this programme, which has a significant socio-economic impact. There are also security considerations because when families struggle to earn a living, there's a higher likelihood their children could be drawn into extremist groups like Al-Shabaab," the governor explained.

Trees that were planted in Mandera town under the Mandera Greening Programme. (Photo: Mary Wambui)

Each woman employed to care for the trees makes it her family's responsibility to ensure they thrive.

The county provides watering points, seedlings, and monitors the progress of the trees, which have beautified parts of the town, offering cool recreational spots for visitors in the sunny county.

The governor noted that Mandera had become exceedingly dusty, making it difficult for people to live there. With the effects of climate change worsening, immediate action was necessary.

"There is also a socio-economic aspect, as there are residents of Mandera who are neither pastoralists nor businesspeople. They had nothing to do, and without intervention, they would have continued to destroy the environment through activities like charcoal burning," he added.

The project has had significant financial implications. The governor noted that while it has been successful, it is also expensive, costing nearly Sh200 million annually to run.

"This covers salaries and the costs of watering the trees. In Mandera, you can't just plant a tree and walk away; you have to nurture it. If you plant and leave, the tree will die. The cost is substantial and continues to rise, with the need for water tanks and irrigation," he explained.

However, he emphasised that the project has greatly enhanced the beauty of Mandera town. "That’s why we were able to participate in the Future Green City World Congress. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to join."

With many of the trees now reaching maturity, the county is entering the second phase of the programme, which will extend the initiative to other neighbourhoods within the town and into the sub-counties.

"Budgeting is a challenge, but we’re still considering how to start in at least six sub-counties so that women in those areas also feel included. We’re really appealing to partners because it’s a noble but costly programme that should be extended to other sub-counties. Our biggest obstacle is funding. People are eager for the programme to begin, and we always tell them we’re looking for partners. Hopefully, during the congress, we can secure some support," he said.

Trees that were planted in Mandera town under the Mandera Greening Programme. (Photo: Mary Wambui)

Unfortunately, the county cannot rely on much assistance from the Kenya Forest Service office in Mandera, as it lacks sufficient resources.

"We always consult them for advice on what to plant and regarding the nursery, but as for support from their ministry, we are still in discussions. I have spoken to (Environment CS Aden) Duale about how we can partner and gain more support," the governor added.

Other cities that won awards at the event include Chengdu, China, for its Urban Green Heart Programme in the "Living Green for Biodiversity and Urban Ecosystem Restoration" category; São Paulo, Brazil, for its Green and Healthy Environments Programme in the "Living Green for Health and Wellbeing" category; and Joondalup, Australia, for its Climate Change Strategy in the "Living Green for Water" category.

Mexico City won the "Living Green for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Communities" category for its ResiLab BioSocial, Huerto Roma Verde initiative, while Baia Mare, Romania, won the "Living Green for Urban Infrastructure and Liveability" category for its Smart Post-Industrial Regenerative Ecosystem programme. Curitiba, Brazil, took the "Living Green for Urban Agriculture and Food Systems" category with its Urban Agriculture Programme, during the event held at the Royal Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands.