The Nobel Prize has paid a glowing tribute to the late Professor Wangari Maathai as Kenya marks this year’s Mazingira Day, celebrating her powerful legacy in environmental conservation and women’s empowerment. The Nobel Prize highlighted Maathai’s groundbreaking achievements, recalling her as the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the first female professor in Kenya.
The post celebrated her trailblazing role as the founder of the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organisation that has planted millions of trees and transformed the lives of countless women across Africa.
“Wangari Maathai was the first female professor in Kenya and the first African woman to be awarded the #NobelPeacePrize. She founded the Green Belt Movement, which led to the planting of millions of trees. Today, we announce the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize,” the Nobel Prize said in a statement on its X account.
Maathai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, was recognised for her lifelong dedication to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. Her work inspired a generation of environmentalists and continues to shape Kenya’s efforts to combat climate change.
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As Kenya celebrates Mazingira Day this Friday, the spirit of Maathai’s vision remains alive. The annual event, which replaced Huduma Day in 2024, has quickly grown into a national movement urging Kenyans to embrace green living, plant trees, and protect the environment.
This year, the call to action has been amplified under the leadership of Environmental Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo, who is urging Kenyans to take up Maathai’s challenge and be part of a sustainable future.
“For us, Mazingira Day is about caring for our environment and our future. Everyone has a responsibility to plant a tree,” she said.
Mulongo further encouraged citizens to contribute to the nationwide tree-planting drive. “We rally all Kenyans to contribute. A seedling costs only Ksh100 to Ksh150, so you can donate a seedling. Let us each take responsibility, plant a tree, manage waste responsibly, protect and nurture the land that sustains us,” she added.
The Kenya Forest Service has also announced plans to reward individuals and groups who grow the most trees during this year’s celebrations, in a bid to encourage consistent participation and stewardship.
Mazingira Day, now in its second year, was officially established in 2024 through a gazette notice by President William Ruto’s administration. The move redefined October 10 as a day fully dedicated to environmental conservation and climate action.
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