Celebrated Young Environmentalist Lilly Tanui with Environment CS Prof. Judy Wakhungu during UN Global talks on the environment at UNEP headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi. [Photos: Facebook/ Environmentalist Lilly Tanui]
She might be only 18 years old now, but she is a household name in the world of environmentalists.
Her name is Lily Tanui, a celebrated young Environmentalist from Uasin Gishu who was among guests invited to the recently concluded United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) global conference on pollution in Nairobi.
During the conference that came to a close on Wednesday, Ms. Tanui had a rare opportunity of giving a statement on behalf of Youth and Children
Lily Tanui at the UNEA conference.
Key highlights in the statement was her call for the protection of environmental defenders and financial support for the UN environment from member states.
“The impunity in the case of environmentalists murdered across the world is disturbing. We welcome the strategy on the protection of Environmental defenders and strongly demand continuedsolidarity. The world cannot remain silent while our communities and peoples continue to suffer,” Tanui said.
“We call upon member states to provide necessary financial support to UN environment to help them achieve ambitious targets and create a viable link to High-level Political Forum (HLPF),' she added.
Lilly Tanui has been involved in tree planting and environmental management since primary school. She sat for her KCSE this year at Bunyore girls.
She's the founder of Berur self-help group that champions for initiatives geared towards protecting the environment and in 2016, she attended Yale Youth Global Scholars Sustainability Energy and Environment session in the United States.