Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa
By Njoroge David
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has called on African nations to merge environmental and health strategies, warning that the continent’s future depends on integrating climate response with public health systems.
Speaking during the closing of the Pan-African Conference on Environment, Climate Change and Health at Emara Ole Sereni in Nairobi on Thursday, Barasa said climate change is directly reshaping the human condition, fuelling outbreaks and migration.
“I have seen cholera outbreaks follow floods like those caused by Cyclone Freddy, and droughts drive hunger and displacement across the Horn of Africa,” said Barasa. “These are not isolated tragedies — they are symptoms of a planetary imbalance that demands unified, science-driven action.”
The conference, attended by delegates from across the continent, focused on turning scientific findings into policy action linking environmental protection, health resilience, and sustainable development.
Barasa urged delegates to move “from conference halls to concrete action,” noting that environmental health must become a cornerstone of every government policy, from agriculture to education.
“Africa holds the key to a greener and healthier future,” she noted. “We must invest in research, local innovation, and community-led adaptation while ensuring that no village, no child, no nation is left behind.”
She said Kenya is integrating environmental goals with economic and health plans through initiatives such as the 15 Billion Tree Campaign, clean energy access, and community resilience programmes.
Barasa observed that collaboration between ministries of health, environment, and finance is now essential. “The time for silos is over. The challenges we face are interlinked — so must be our responses,” she explained.
The Cabinet Secretary closed her address by urging African leaders to act as one, saying the continent can turn “from vulnerability to vitality, from crisis to opportunity” through shared purpose and unity.
