President Uhuru Launches Ksh.2.2M Environmental Sustainability Award
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a new award that seeks to recognize persons and institutions leading the journey towards environmental sustainability.
Gathogo Wanjiru 
Dubbed the Mazingira Award, the accolade was launched on Thursday at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi during the official opening of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 50th-anniversary celebrations.
The Head of State said the award will come with a Ksh.2.2 million ($20,000) cash prize and the first awardee will be announced June 1.
During the event, President Kenyatta who was flanked by other Heads of State also unveiled the commemorative plaque marking the fiftieth anniversary of the UN agency.
President Kenyatta also announced that the government will provide free land for three UN humanitarian and logistics hubs in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Naivasha.
The Nairobi-based UNEP was founded in June 1972 following the United Nations Stockholm Conference on Human Environment.
It is tasked with coordinating the United Nations' environmental activities and the commemoration events are set to go on for two days.
