How I Moved from Disconnection to Purpose: My Journey in Authentic Climate Action
Becoming a true green executor of climate action requires a deep, personal awakening of a climate lens that focuses not just on the external, but also on the internal. My climate journey began by addressing the divisions within myself, the lack of eco-motivation, lack of eco-interest to the environmental issues around me, then reconnecting with my core climate purpose, and finding unity among climate activists. Particularly for me, the climate action space is a calling, deep, urgent, and unrelenting.
In Kenya, my pride and my country, we have progressive environmental frameworks like the Climate Change Act 2016 and the Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (GESIP) 2016–2030. These policies lay a solid foundation for reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable development, and fostering resilience. But for a long time, I was completely disconnected from these policies. It wasn’t until I pursued my master’s program and began exploring Kenya’s environmental frameworks that I realized how unaware I had been. Imagine, then, how many local people, farmers, market traders, and community members have no idea these climate policies exist.
This disconnect is not just a missed opportunity; it’s a significant barrier to climate action. I wonder, how can we expect our country to achieve sustainable development when the very people these policies are meant to serve remain unaware of their existence? What can we do to bridge this gap? It’s clear we need to rethink how we communicate and implement these policies. Formal channels aren’t enough. We must embrace non-formal methods to make ambitious eco-policies accessible and relatable. How do we bring GESIP to the local mama mboga who never went to school but lives closest to the resources we aim to protect? How do we inspire collective, grassroots action rooted in understanding? Until we answer these questions, our policies will remain lifeless words on paper, failing to transform the lives of the people who need them most.
Attending the African Climate Summit, surrounded by a sea of people and organizations brimming with energy and ideas, I witnessed a profound collective yearning for climate justice. Yet, I was struck by a critical question: Can the power of ‘a lot’ be translated into real, transformative action? The foundation laid by Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), they equipped me with the tools to envision climate activism beyond rhetoric. It gave me the courage to question systems, advocate for equity, and amplify the voices of communities most affected by climate change. But I left the summit realizing that collective aspirations alone aren’t enough.
But I left the summit realizing that collective aspirations alone aren’t enough.True climate justice demands more than gatherings or declarations, it calls for coordinated, actionable strategies. It challenges us to build bridges between advocacy and policy, to empower local communities with resources and knowledge, and to ensure every voice is not just heard but acted upon. Our actions must move from being reactive to intentional, from fragmented to united. Let us not merely gather in numbers but channel that strength into sustainable, measurable change. Only then can the promise of ‘a lot’ truly manifest in the climate movement.
The turning point came when I realized that climate change affects us personally. I know what climate stress feels like, the impact of polluted water, degraded soil, deforested lands, and dwindling resources. These challenges are real for my community. When food prices surge , when tomatoes, maize, and onions become unaffordable, it creates a ripple effect in homes, making them hostile and unbearable especially for women and young girls. Without seeing the challenge, we cannot take action. We cannot advocate for better food policies, fight against water pollution, or prioritize sustainable practices. Our shared futures overlap and what we do now will affect our children whether we want it or not.
I woke up to the social impacts of climate change at age 27 when I realized how deeply it intertwines with resource distribution, scarcity, and unhealthy societal norms. Resource stress breeds competition, which in turn fuels corruption, gender suppression, and violence. Climate change is not just an environmental crisis,it is a human crisis.
Recently, I became an environmental changemaker through the U.S.-based Change the Chamber Environmental Changemaking Program. Today I globally support the Green Movement under the #OfficiallyGreenCampaign. As a mentor in Africa, I’ve come to believe in the power of purpose and intention. This is what leads us home to our true calling. Once we discover this, only then can we address the root issues of environmental degradation, social inequality, and governance failures.
This is my call to you: examine the areas within yourself that have drifted from authenticity. Identify what prevents you from becoming a true executor of climate action. Without a personal vision, even within climate spaces, we remain isolated, disconnected from the heartbeat of change. Climate self-disconnection is real. As an environmental researcher I know. It’s that haunting feeling of being detached from purpose, identity, and clarity, losing sight of why you’re taking action in the first place. And this disconnect weakens the foundation of our fight.
I call for action that starts at home, that sacred space of self-awareness where purpose ignites. Home, in this context, isn’t just a physical place; it’s the core of who we are, what truly drives us, and what fuels our authenticity. As we say in Swahili, "Nyumba ni msingi wa maisha" (Home is the foundation of life). When we find our foundation, we can spread our impact outward from self to family, from family to community, and ultimately to the world.
I’ve left behind inauthenticity, performative climate action, and the chase for external validation. We must resist being swept up in the buzz of climate activism for show. Instead, let’s commit to genuine, heartfelt efforts that make a lasting impact. Through authenticity, we transcend performative action and transform scarcity into sustainability. This is a call to move from disconnection to purpose, from silence to impact, and from isolated efforts to collective resilience. It is a journey that starts at home and ripples outward, encompassing Africa and beyond, as we navigate the intersection of justice, governance, and environmental preservation.
Every day, I work to build lasting solutions not for selfish gain, but for our children to inherit a world that is ethical, healthy, and peaceful. My fulfillment comes from the true impact my actions have, the hard-fought-for results, the improvements in my community. Fighting for me is the strength to say yes and stand firm to advocate, create awareness and support the trees, the soil, the air, the rivers, the ocean, the water we use and the energy we consume.
Let us create a tomorrow where our actions today lay a strong foundation for justice, resilience, and abundance. It’s not just about protecting the environment; it’s about safeguarding humanity. It's about safeguarding yourself. Because, as another Swahili saying goes, "Umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhaifu" (Unity is strength, division is weakness). If the divisions within must be confronted, the divisions without will hold no power. Together, we can build a future that thrives.
Will you join me in this fight? It begins within.
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