We are very fond of blaming the poor for destroying the environment. But often it is the powerful, including governments, that are responsible.

It's a matter of life and death for this country. The Kenyan forests are facing extinction and it is a man-made problem.

It is very important for young people not to be afraid of engaging in areas that are not common to the youth. Get involved in local activities, get involved in local initiatives, be involved in leadership positions because you can’t learn unless you are involved. And if you make mistakes that is alright too because we all make mistakes and we learn from those mistakes. You gain confidence from learning, failing and rising again.

African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence.

We tend to put the environment last because we think the first thing we have to do is eliminate poverty and send children to school and provide health.

You can educate people on how to preempt their own conflict.

One of the reasons why we started the Green Belt Movement is to work with these ordinary peasant farmers so as to educate them that, despite the fact that they are poor, it is in their interest to protect the soil that they have, to protect the forest they have, to protect the land that they have, because if they don't do it, things can be only worse tomorrow for them for them and for their children.