Youth and Climate Justice in Kenya: How Bungoma Is Becoming a Model for Change

Youth in Bungoma County, Kenya are leading climate justice efforts through YILAA’s YECJS project, addressing environmental challenges, land rights, and sustainable development.

In Bungoma County, Kenya, something meaningful is taking shape as young people begin to claim their voice in conversations around land, climate, and justice. With support from the Youth Climate Justice Fund, the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (Yilaa) is advancing youth land rights and environmental justice through the Youth Empowerment for Climate Justice and Sustainability (YECJS) Project. As part of this work, 30 youth from Webuye East, Mount Elgon, and Cheptais sub-counties have been crowned as climate justice champions in their communities.

This journey started with listening. The first activity under the project was a baseline assessment designed to understand how youth in Bungoma perceive climate change, how they engage with climate action, and what holds them back. The findings were clear and, in many ways, expected. Awareness of climate justice was low. Youth participation in climate activities existed, but it was often informal, fragmented, and under-supported. Many youth spoke about the same barriers: limited access to financial and technical resources, challenges around land ownership, gender norms that restrict young women’s participation, and very little space for youth voices in county level decision making. These realities shaped both the tone and the content of the training that followed.

Youth Take the Lead in Climate Justice in Bungoma County

Bungoma County in Kenya is emerging as a powerful example of youth leadership in climate justice and sustainable development. Through the Youth Empowerment for Climate Justice and Sustainability (YECJS) Project, implemented by Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA), young people are driving solutions to climate change while advocating for equitable access to land and resources.

This initiative demonstrates how empowering youth can accelerate climate action and strengthen environmental governance across Africa.

Youth Driving Climate Action in Kenya

Youth Driving Climate Action in Kenya
Young people across Bungoma particularly in Webuye East, Mount Elgon, and Cheptais are actively engaged in environmental initiatives such as:
Tree planting campaigns
Climate awareness programs
Community clean-up activities
Soil erosion prevention efforts
Climate advocacy through digital platforms
However, participation levels remain low, highlighting the need for stronger support systems and youth inclusion strategies.

Young people across Bungoma particularly in Webuye East, Mount Elgon, and Cheptais are actively engaged in environmental initiatives such as:

• Tree planting campaigns
• Climate awareness programs
• ¹Community clean-up activities
• Soil erosion prevention efforts
• Climate advocacy through digital platforms
• However, participation levels remain low, highlighting the need for stronger support systems and youth inclusion strategies.

Understanding the Climate Justice Gap

The baseline study conducted by YILAA Kenya highlights a crucial reality: while awareness of climate change is moderate, awareness of climate justice remains significantly low among youth.

Key findings include:

• Only 27.6% of youth demonstrated high awareness of climate justice.
• 46.1% had moderate to low awareness, and
• 26.3% had no awareness at all. YECJS Baseline Assessment Report

The most commonly identified climate impacts across Bungoma include:

• Floods and heavy rainfall in Mount Elgon and Cheptais
• Deforestation in Webuye East
• Soil erosion, food insecurity, and environmental pollution YECJS Baseline Assessment Report

These findings underline a critical need for targeted climate education and awareness programs.

Why Climate Justice Matters for Youth

Climate justice goes beyond environmental protection it is about fairness, equity, and rights.

Young people in Bungoma face multiple structural barriers that limit their participation in climate action, including:

• Lack of financial resources
• Limited access to land ownership
• Cultural and gender norms
• Insufficient inclusion in decision-making processes YECJS Baseline Assessment Report

Land ownership is particularly a major challenge in Cheptais, where social norms restrict youth access to land, thereby limiting their ability to engage in environmental initiatives.

As highlighted during the project activities:

“We cannot talk about climate resilience without securing land rights for young people. When youth are empowered, ecosystems stand a chance.”

Youth-Led Environmental Initiatives Are Growing

Despite challenges, youth-led climate initiatives are expanding:

• 10 initiatives identified in Webuye East
• 12 initiatives identified in Mount Elgon YECJS Baseline Assessment Report

These initiatives focus on environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, and climate advocacy.

They demonstrate that youth are not only beneficiaries but key actors in climate solutions.

Key Opportunities to Strengthen Youth Climate Leadership

The study identified several opportunities to increase youth participation:

• Community-based environmental programs
• Government tree-planting campaigns
• NGO support and partnerships
• Youth engagement in public policy forums YECJS Baseline Assessment Report

Urban-connected areas such as Webuye East show higher levels of youth policy participation, emphasizing the importance of access and connectivity.

The Way Forward: Scaling Youth Climate Solutions

To strengthen youth leadership in climate justice, strategic actions are needed:

• Build Youth Capacity
• Training in advocacy, climate planning, and leadership.
• Improve Access to Resources
• Establishing climate action funds for youth-led initiatives.
• Address Structural Barriers
• Reforming land policies and promoting gender inclusion.
• Strengthen Youth Networks
• Connecting climate initiatives across regions for collaboration.
• Enhance Monitoring and Data Systems

Tracking progress in youth participation and climate impact. YECJS Baseline Assessment Report

Bungoma: A Model for Youth-Led Climate Justice in Africa

Bungoma County demonstrates that when youth are empowered with knowledge, resources, and opportunities, they can lead meaningful climate action.

Through the YECJS project, YILAA continues to champion youth engagement in climate justice, contributing to sustainable land governance, environmental resilience, and inclusive development across Africa.

In the weeks ahead, the project moves into action. The 30 climate champions will now serve as Trainers of Trainers, supporting the rollout of livelihood, capacity building, and climate action activities across their communities. This includes training on sustainable agriculture and agroforestry, supporting the formation of Village Saving Loan Associations to strengthen economic resilience beyond the project period, and equipping youth and women with practical life skills for income generation.

Beyond Bungoma, the project will continue to build connections through regional partnerships, online learning, peer-to-peer exchanges, and awareness campaigns in communities and schools. Engagement with local governments and participation in regional platforms will help anchor youth voices in policy spaces, while a strong monitoring and evaluation process will ensure learning is captured, impact is documented, and the work remains grounded and sustainable.

Source: Baseline assessment report

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