Mandera County bags the 2024 World Green City Award

 

Mandera County has won the 2024 edition of the World Green City Award.

Long perceived as a desert and conflict-ridden, Mandera County beat the United Kingdom’s Liverpool and Australia’s Melbourne in a competition that ended on September 24.

Mandera won the award for its efforts in tackling the root causes and effects of climate change to build more liveable and resilient cities.

In the category, participants were to demonstrate realistic living green solutions such as street trees, green roofs and walls, and parks and gardens, all contributing to moderating the impacts of climate change. 

While the UK’s Liverpool City project in the competition was the URBAN GreenUP, Australia’s Melbourne had its Green Factor Tool project for consideration.

In solving problems such as the urban heat island effect and poor local air quality, participants were also expected to prove how realistic nature-based solutions deliver quantifiable cash value to city authorities as well as enhance the quality of life for citizens.

Mandera was among seven grand winners that were announced at the Future Green City World Congress hosted by AIPH and partners at the Royal Jaarbeurs in the heart of the City of Utrecht, the Netherlands.

While congratulating the winning cities, AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio said together with partners, they proudly showcase the bold and inspiring urban greening initiatives by winning cities from around the world, all of whom are leading the way in shaping a greener urban future.

“It is with deep appreciation that we thank the City of Utrecht and the hosting partners of the Future Green City World Congress for providing a stage on which to celebrate the winners of the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards,” said Mr Capitanio.

Some of the students in Mandera County participate in the Greening project. [Courtesy]

The 2026 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards was also announced with entries opening in early 2025.

Mandera County under the leadership of Governor Mohamed Khalif rolled out a greening initiative where nearly 300,000 trees have been planted to address frequent droughts.

The governor in a previous interview said his administration intends to plant a billion trees by the end of his five-year term. 

Under the plan, the county has enlisted some 1300 families to tend to trees planted within the municipality amid efforts to raise the trees with leftover water.

“Every moment they cleanse themselves for prayers, the water is not poured out as waste but used to hydrate the trees, shielding them from being dried up by the unforgiving sun,” said Khalif.

Under the initiative, every family will adopt a tree and nurture it with participating families getting a stipend of Sh10,000 monthly as a form of motivation to do the work while being afforded an avenue of income.

 “I’m proud of this municipality greening project because it has not just transformed the face of Mandera, but also given it life and made our county a significant place of the future,” Khalif said.