To become a future green metropolis, Mandera County’s afforestation program has been deemed sustainable, surpassing those of first-world cities Liverpool and Melbourne.
The Mandera municipality’s greening effort was featured in the Living Green for Climate Change category, where it competed against programs from Melbourne, Australia, and Liverpool, UK.
The celebration took place on September 25 in Utrecht, Netherlands, during the Future Green City World Congress, which attracted over 3,000 professionals from around the globe.
Initiated by former governor Ali Roba, the Mandera program was later continued under Governor Mohamed Khalif’s administration.
With the goal of addressing the long-term effects of the devastating drought that has plagued the region, resulting in livestock deaths and threatening livelihoods, the county has planted nearly 300,000 trees within the municipality.
Khalif aims to plant one billion trees by the end of his five-year term. Approximately 1,300 families have been engaged by the county to care for the trees planted in the municipality.
With the available water, he explained, they will nurture the trees.
“Water is not wasted; it is used to hydrate the trees, protecting them from the harsh sun, while also purifying themselves for prayers,” he stated.
Each family is responsible for nurturing a tree.
Participating families receive a monthly stipend of Sh10,000, providing them with a source of income while encouraging the necessary care for the trees.
Liverpool’s URBAN GreenUP project and Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool project were the two entries competing in this category.
The projects were assessed for their viability in providing sustainable green solutions, such as parks and gardens, green walls and roofs, and street trees. These initiatives help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
An explainer noted that “nature-based solutions offer quantifiable financial benefits to city authorities and enhance the quality of life by addressing issues like urban heat islands and poor local air quality.”
Khalif stated, “I’m proud of this municipality greening project because it has revitalized our county and transformed Mandera into a significant place for the future.”
According to the event’s organizers, the competition included seven categories, with the 2024 jury selecting the winners from 21 contenders in each category.
The organizers stated, “With this announcement, AIPH and partners proudly showcase the bold and inspiring urban greening initiatives by winning cities worldwide, all leading the way in shaping a greener urban future.”
Tim Briercliffe, secretary-general of AIPH, expressed pride in how the AIPH World Green City Awards have grown since their inaugural edition in 2022.
As we prepare for the 2026 edition, we hope this trend continues, allowing us to feature even more initiatives from across the globe. Stay tuned for more developments.
Following the county’s victory, the governor exclaimed, “We did it!”
The Council of Governors congratulated the county for its support of the project.
“Mandera Municipality and Mandera County are congratulated on their victory at the Royal Jaabeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands, during the prestigious AIPH Global World Green City Awards 2024.”
Before the project began, the county faced strong winds that created dust clouds, along with intense sun offering little relief from the heat.
Since the trees have grown and transformed the town, the county has experienced more wet seasons than usual, making agricultural irrigation and water harvesting easier.
