Anita Soina’s press statement upon joining Green Thinking Action Party (GTAP) after defecting from United Democratic Alliance (UDA)

“My name is Anita Soina, a 22-year-old positive social change catalyst with a strong inclination on
environment. I am an environmental advocate and climate justice activist who identifies as a member
of the pastoralist community that is The Maasai.Growing up, I connected with the challenges and opportunities and got charged to be a force behind
social change leveraging on environmental conservation which has been a contentious issue in this
region. I started mobilizing young people to be at the forefront of environmental conservation and at
18 I founded an organization, SpiceWarriors, a platform for them to take actions in protecting a
lynchpin without which their future will not be certain. This organization has grown to be a national
movement, and has started to attract members and supporters in neighboring countries like Tanzania
and other countries.

Compelled by the role that politics constantly play in international environmental governance,
economic and social prosperity of communities, I contemplated on fighting The Green War from the
corridors of power and representing the interests of young people, children and women who are highly
underrepresented in the active political arena.
I therefore have offered myself as a candidate for Member of National Parliament for Kajiado North
constituency in the forthcoming general election on August 9th 2022, and the youngest persons to
ever to vie for such a position in the history of Kenya.
Drawing inspirations from green politicians from all over the world I am committed to a healthy and
safe environment but that does not mean I am committed to that alone. I am committed to other
economic, social and political issues as well. In 2019, during the UK general elections, my friend and
sister Nadia Edith Whittome, was elected as the member of parliament for Nottingham East at the age
of 23, becoming the baby of the house as the youngest MP. She is also part of our big family, i.e. The
Climate Movement and has used her space to actively contribute to climate action and other social
and economic issues.
In November last year, during the cop 26 conference I was privileged to meet and interact on a
personal level with US Senators, Jeff Merkley and Ed Markey who are also known for their efforts in
environment conservation. Elsewhere in the world, green politicians have been elected and
nominated to represent the people and I believe the people of Kajiado North are going to join in the
list of constituencies represented by green and youthful political leaders.
Namibia and South Africa have previously elected Emma Theophilus at the age of 23 and Itumeleng
Ntsube at the age of 21 respectively and this is proof that young youths are not too young to lead.

The culture of politics in Kenya, does not favor women and youth. You can imagine being both.
Environment conservation and climate change issues have been for a long time ignored by politicians
when presenting their manifestos. Today, I want to request all presidential candidates and every other
candidate to include clear climate agendas not to ignore climate action in their manifestos. You cannot
promise people the you will solve their water problem, health issues, food insecurity and poverty
without addressing climate crisis which in one way or another is linked to the challenges above and
many others.
Borrowing from the words of the late member of parliament for Tetu constituency and Nobel peace
prize winner Prof. Wangari Maathai, who is also a role model to many of us “We tend to put the
environment last because we think the first thing, we have to do is eliminate poverty. But you can’t
reduce poverty in vacuum, you are doing it in an environment”.
I have been a member of the UDA party since June 2021 and today on 22nd March 2022, I Anita
Soina, The Green MP is joining The Green Thinking Action Party. I will be running for office as a
Member of Parliament for Kajiado North on GTAP ticket.
I chose Green Thinking Action Party because I believe environment is central to the economic
proposals fronted by others.“

End of Anita Soina’s press statement. What’s your comment?