Shadrack Omuka

Shadrack Omuka is a freelance journalist and a photographer based in Nairobi, Kenya. He specializes in science, culture, human rights, environment, business, climate change and technology. His work has appeared in publications including Earth Island Journal, Equal Times, News Deeply, Inter Press Service, Thomson Reuters, Water World and World Economic Forum, among others.

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A resident plants a banana tree outside his house in Nairobi, Kenya, on Nov. 13, 2023. The Diocese of Kakamega is partaking in the restoration of the degraded Maragoli Forest, located about 248 miles west of Nairobi. (AP photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Faith-based Mother Earth Network aims to restore Maragoli Forest, and hope, in Kenya

Kenyan Catholics and a priest-led environmental group have taken on a forest restoration project in Vihiga County. Fr. Hermann Borg, founder of Mother Earth Network, is known as "Baba Miti," or "The Father of Trees," by locals.

A man walks in the Murungato River in search of sand. The Kalondon River splits from the Murungato River toward Mathari. (Courtesy of Shadrack Omuka)

An archdiocese in Kenya advocates for river conservation among local communities

The Kalondon River, owned by the Nyeri Archdiocese, has been facing numerous challenges, including logging upstream, waste dumping from locals and illegal tapping.

Officials with shovel prepare to plant trees

Kenya diocese's coffee farm spreads conservation skills to local community

Established to facilitate evangelization, Nyeri Hill Farm, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri, has expanded its goals to focus heavily on forest restoration and environmental conservation.

 

A young boy, sitting in a tree to get a view, joins about 1,000 other protesters to demand action on climate change, in a park Sept. 20, 2019, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. The Diocese of Murang'a and Equity Bank have partnered to restore degraded forests in central Kenya. (AP photo/Ben Curtis)

Diocese and bank in Kenya partner to restore forests, mitigate and adapt to climate change

As effects of climate change impact the horn of Africa, organizations are collaborating to take action. Among them are the Catholic Church and Equity Bank, who have partnered to restore degraded forests in Kenya.

A Maasai man walks with his livestock in search of grassland for them to graze on Nov. 9 at Ilangeruani village, near Lake Magadi, in Kajiado County, Kenya. Parts of Kenya have experienced four consecutive seasons with inadequate rain in the past two years, with dire effects for people and animals, including livestock. (AP/Brian Inganga)

Kenyan herder testifies to death, drought as UN climate conference meets in Egypt

Millions of Kenyans' lives have been devastated by a relentless and punishing drought, linked to climate change, that has triggered food insecurity, livestock deaths and conflicts among communities.

Since its founding in the 1980s, the 200-acre Subukia National Shrine in Kenya has been a place of worship for Christians and non-Christians alike, with surrounding forest and springs that many visitors consider to hold healing powers. (Shadrack Omuka)

Environment degradation imperils Kenya's Subukia Shrine and healing waters

Kenya's Subukia National Shrine, said to have healing waters, has been losing its splendor in the face of massive deforestation that has wildlife disappearing and climate change that is drying up its springs.

Fr. Innocent Wefon of Cameroon participates in a cleaning exercise with the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability Africa, a grassroots lay organization that aims to empower African youth to get involved in working for a better climate.

Young Africans engage in local and global climate conversations through Catholic youth network

Since 2011, Allen Ottaro has been running a grassroots lay organization that aims to empower African youth to get involved in working for a better climate.

 

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