| dc.description.abstract | Environmental destruction has contributed to climate change, a contemporary threat to the
survival of the human race. Currently, many young people across the world are increasingly
and actively involved in climate action, because of the realisation that climate change will
disproportionately affect them. Kenya is adversely affected by climate change, with erratic
and unpredictable rainfall patterns now being the norm. Given that the youth make up a
large segment of the Kenyan population, they are well placed to contribute efficaciously to
combating climate change. This article relied on both primary and secondary sources of
data. Interviews, participant observations, focus group discussions, articles, books and
archival material were used to generate data. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques
were used to get key informants. Data were analysed thematically as per the topic under
study. The article focuses on how the Sengwer indigenous community created environmental
awareness and utilised their epistemological approaches to ensure a conscious mindset
amongst the youth on the sustainability of the environment. In this article, we argue that the
complex social systems that have religious underpinnings in traditional society play a
critical role in ensuring that young people are environmentally conscious. Religion facilitates
knowledge acquisition amongst the youth and shapes their understanding and consciousness
of the environment. The findings indicate that indigenous communities had an effective
system of ensuring that young people are conscious of their environment.
Contribution: This article seeks to contribute to an instauration of indigenous knowledges
and epistemologies on environmental issues. It proffers for a holistic approach of incorporating
indigenous ways of creating environmental consciousness and awareness amongst the youth. | en_US |
