Environmental Ethics: A Kenyan Perspective

Abstract

Destruction of biodiversity results in extensive harms. The use of localized illustrative cases can illuminate the value of safeguarding the interconnected system of living and nonliving things. Being human and alive has ontological value; however, all other living things have intrinsic value too. Using literature review and illustrative cases from Kenya, we show how biodiversity is easily destroyed resulting in environmental pollution, depletion of resources, extinction of species, and climate change. More efforts are needed to create awareness on the shared natural and manmade environment, and the factors putting nature at risk. To increase sustainability and self-reliance in Kenyan communities, application of principlism ethics, participatory dialogues, and multidisciplinary work will result in safeguards for both human and nonhuman forms. Such approaches will ensure exploitation of natural resources to meet common needs while paying attention to intellectual property rights. Furthermore, increased caring between producers and consumers, participatory dialogues about the shared environment, and environmental disobedience are all vital avenues to desired change against threats noted with climate change. Otherwise, current and future generations will suffer due to our current activities.