Nairobi — There would be fewer conflicts if Kenyans were sensitised on responsible natural resources management, several experts have said.

The experts, who were guests during KTN's interactive live show, Newsline, said protecting the environment was directly related to peace. A panel of specialists joined an audience in discussing the relationship between environment and conflict in Kenya.

They comprised Nobel Laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, former National Environmental Management Authority Director-General, Prof Ratemo Michieka, a University of Nairobi environmental law lecturer, Prof Alberta Mumma, and Kenya Association of Manufacturers Chief Executive, Ms Betty Maina.

Michieka said natural resources play a critical role in human life, and urged Kenyans to be careful with the environment.

"There are numerous internal chaos concerning water and land," he said.

The former Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Vice-Chancellor cited a recent incident where somebody in Kiambu diverted a river course for his own use.

This had prevented water from reaching his neighbours' garden. He noted that such cases should be addressed since they can lead to conflict. Prof Mumma called for transparent allocation of natural resources, saying it defused tension in the society. But Ms Maina challenged Kenyans to seek alternative resources to reduce conflicts.

"There is need for alternatives to reduce environmental insecurity, like cutting down trees," she said. Cutting trees for firewood, Maina said, contributed to environmental destruction, adding that the trend was common in the rural areas.

Mumma accused leaders of failing to enact laws to protect the environment. He asked the central and local governments to incorporate local communities in environmental conservation.

"If users of the environment are given an active role, it will be easy to create strategies dealing with both the users and Government," said Mumma.

This would also reduce environment-related conflicts, he added. Civic education would furnish Kenyans with knowledge on the environment, participants noted.