Kenya's Gold | Making urban cities green [Part 1]

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Much for making time to join us this Friday, the 29th of May, on the biggest agricultural show in the world, Kenya's Gold. We are ready to do that thing that we do best every single day of the week, which is to educate you about all matters agriculture and environmental conservation as well. Now, before we unpack what we have prepared for you today, I'm very sure different people across the country may come kill very many butterflies. What are we going to give a paper in your neighborhood? What to go on what to have a gym issue what to have a double ready and I believe it's across different parts of the country. This is some of the videos that some of you have been sharing wondering why are we seeing so many white butterflies in the country. Please do not panic and I can do anything for environment which is not usual. So, basically what to do and I can do anything for research about insects and I want to wait and I can do anything for research the weather conditions have been quite favorable to do anything for and then it's been quite warm and this weather provides a perfect breeding condition for butterflies. I can do anything for you get a butterfly and I can do anything for you get a butterfly. So, this weather the rain made it possible for the plants the specific [music] plants that caterpillars prefer they thrive and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies [music] and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do [music] anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies and I can do anything for butterflies All is well. Once again, a very good evening, viewers. Thank you so much for making time to join us this evening. We do have a great show lined up for you today. My name is Violet And You Now, or the International Kulima.

[00:02:24]All right. So, to my talk about my boy and my butterflies kidogo, to me agree we will not spray them. They are harmless. Now, let us move to the agenda of the day. Now, Friday in a corner to follow to kidogo. We are not in the farm throughout for sababu on Friday we also focus on matters pollution and environmental conservation [music] as well. Now, let me to talk about pollution in the urban cities. What are what are the main cities such as [music] Nairobi?

[00:02:53]The pollution that is there. How does it affect our environment? How does it affect our health? My question is yet to be what can we do to make sure that we are not in the urban cities? What are other countries across the world doing to make sure that we are able to breathe fresh air? You know, there's that thing that we normally say we should go to the outskirts. Which is not right. Because there's so many people who live in the urban cities and they also deserve to live in a clean, safe, green environment. So, let me to talk about my question yet to be what [music] and what can we do to make the situation better?

[00:03:35]Let me to talk about my question yet to be what [music] and what can we do to make the situation better? Let me to talk about my question yet to be what and what can we do to make the situation better? Let me to talk about my question yet to be what and what can we do to make the situation better? Let me to talk about my question yet to be what and what can we do to make the situation better? Let me to talk about my question yet to be what and what can we do to make the situation better? Let me to talk about my question yet to be what and what can we do to make the situation better? Let me to talk about my question yet to be what and what can we do to make the situation better? how is it affecting the quality of [music] your life? Just in case you come from an area where there is pollution, where there is waste that has not been managed well, how is that pollution affecting the quality of your life? Please feel free to send us an SMS on 22422.

[00:04:13]We will be sampling your feedback later [music] on in the program. Now, as we kick start the show, we So, we are going to go all the way to Azerbaijan, Baku City, which is their capital city, [music] and we learn how they are working so hard to make sure that their capital city is green, is clean, [music] and is pollution-free.

[00:04:38]Take a look.

[00:04:46]Urban areas' pollution is a silent crisis, degrading the quality of those living in urban areas, and the environment as well.

[00:05:00]It is mainly contributed to by heavy transportation, industrial activities, continuous traffic, and poor waste management systems.

[00:05:13]>> [music] >> Engine vehicles emit high levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Prolonged exposure to urban air toxins contributes to lifestyle diseases such as lung cancer.

[00:05:33]>> [music] >> Parts of the sustainable mitigation measures include use of electric [music] vehicles, developing protected bike lanes, integrating urban forest and use of modern technology to track pollution levels.

[00:05:55]>> [music] >> To learn more about going green, let's take you to Baku City, Azerbaijan, which is recognized as one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world.

[00:06:14]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> So, we are in Baku City, Azerbaijan. A very, very beautiful city. This is the capital city. It has a population of about 3 million people, but the entire population of the country of Azerbaijan is about 10 million people. Now, something very interesting about the capital city is the fact that they're encouraging a lot of green. So, you're going to be seeing a lot of trees, a lot of green parks, a lot of forestry, and there's also some agriculture that happens in the capital city. Now, this particular place where we're in, it's called 28th May Station, and we will be speaking to one of the people that works in this transport sector, who's talking to us about why they're very keen on making sure, as much as it's a bus station, there's also green, there's trees, and there's some forestry happening in the city. So, come along with me. Let us meet our expert who will be talking to us this morning. [music] This particular place that we are in is called the 28th May station. There is a lot of buses around here, electric buses some of them and also at the same time a lot of tree growing is happening here.

[00:08:08]So, there's a lot of effort to make sure that we are creating a pollution-free, environmentally safe bus station. And to speak to us today, we do have the owners of this fantastic gentleman. I'll allow him to introduce himself. Introduce yourself to our audience back in Kenya.

[00:08:27]>> Thank you very much. Welcome Baku. My name is Rovshan Afandiyev. I am head of transport planning department of Azerbaijan Land Transportation Agency.

[00:08:34]Agency is responsible for regulation of public transport on all ground transport in the country.

[00:08:40]>> Great. Have you been to Kenya before?

[00:08:43]>> I wish.

[00:08:43]>> You want to come?

[00:08:44]>> Yes.

[00:08:45]>> I give you an invitation. After this, welcome to Kenya.

[00:08:47]>> Oh, that's great. Thank you very much.

[00:08:49]>> Great. All right. So, before we even get into the basics of what's happening here, could you please talk to us about your background? Have you done any farming?

[00:08:58]>> Yeah, of course. In my childhood, I had something in horticulture.

[00:09:02]>> Yes.

[00:09:02]>> I have some skills.

[00:09:04]To grow tomatoes, pears in my childhood.

[00:09:08]>> All right.

[00:09:09]>> But afterwards, I decided to focus on different side.

[00:09:13]>> All right.

[00:09:14]But you have the knowledge still.

[00:09:15]>> I have some skills.

[00:09:17]>> All right.

[00:09:18]>> mind. Yeah.

[00:09:18]>> All right. So, something great that is happening in Baku City, something very impressive is the fact that there is a lot of trees and a lot of green in this region. And you're very intentional in making sure that your city is green. Why is that very important for you and when did this initiative start?

[00:09:38]>> If you look back to the history, you'll see completely different cities we didn't have any water and we never had any trees, but all small portion of parts or greener areas was Baku city, but uh station changed uh when water came to Baku.

[00:09:56]And we decided to transform Baku desert area to the greener area and it started to grow up 50 or 60 years ago. And in 1967, Baku metro station opened here. The design and approach changed as secondary our priorities changed. One of our priorities was, you know, to build, you know, more pedestrian friendly.

[00:10:20]>> Right.

[00:10:21]>> You know, for >> So, creating more pedestrian >> Yes.

[00:10:24]>> When we >> Yes.

[00:10:25]>> pathways. Why is that very important?

[00:10:27]Are you encouraging more people to walk as opposed to using cars? Help us understand that.

[00:10:33]>> Look around, please. And if you to be here, you know, 2 years ago, you will see a completely different landscape.

[00:10:40]>> Yeah.

[00:10:41]>> It's chaotic parking, uh messy uh landscape and we decided, government decided to rebuild the area.

[00:10:50]Reconstruction actually >> Right.

[00:10:52]>> place uh in 6 months and eventually >> You have this.

[00:10:59]>> You can see people now >> People moving around. Yes, right.

[00:11:03]>> But there are, you know, even, you know, what uh micro mobility >> All right.

[00:11:07]>> area at least. You can, you know, uh rent bike and scooters.

[00:11:12]>> So, all starts with the responsibility of maintaining the greenery around here, growing more trees, and also making sure that what is there, the green that is already here, is well taken care of.

[00:11:24]>> So, that's an interesting question and good question. You know, trees were the offices, right?

[00:11:30]The governmental Baku city, the mayor of office of the Baku city honest possible of uh cheating in the area at the same time servicing of trees just you know we need watering at the right time spring we have Sumqayit city in the summer period we have special for special service of trees and trees you know otherwise we'll lose it and I just see this like railway like metro station and everyone is responsible you know it's our electric project so here you are marrying the trees to the transport sector you also very keen on electric buses and electric cars how many do you have so far and what's the plan for the future when it comes to going electric in this sector it's kind of new pathway for us I will start today in part two cop 29 event and decided that electrification of bus fleet will be more practical and much more functional for the future for the first year we brought 160 buses and then it was a decision to bring to add you know 200 additional buses per year until 2029 for the first phase and to say it we'll have 1000 electric buses in operation by 2029 yeah and what's important here we started from last year to localize production of electric buses so now we produce buses in Sumqayit city which is located in 30 kilometers north of Baku Um, as you might see, it's a wide buses. They are very practical, they are very clean.

[00:13:31]>> Right.

[00:13:31]>> And we also liked their functionality and the long-term service of the buses.

[00:13:37]>> Right.

[00:13:37]>> They can, you know, serve 15 years.

[00:13:39]>> Right.

[00:13:39]>> Yeah, and without any, you know, repair and spare part changing, you know, it's not like in a diesel engine or gas engine.

[00:13:50]>> Really? Right. So, you had also mentioned something about some of the trees around here at some point that will come in handy to absorb some of the gases from here. So, you can expand on that so that someone who's listening can understand on why it's very important to intermarry these two agri sectors.

[00:14:07]>> Sure. As previously I mentioned, each tree, you know, valuable for us in Baku's we're ensuring, you know, greener area, you know, for good and the same time for the future to absorption of pollution and in the gas emission.

[00:14:24]>> Right.

[00:14:24]>> Yeah. And secondly, studies show that if you create greener areas alongside of the road, it can reduce your temperature, you know, by 2 or 3 degrees. Yeah, depending on your area, depending on your size, and depending on your trees.

[00:14:43]>> So, when this electric buses come here, is there a particular place where they are charged from this point or how does it work?

[00:14:50]>> Yeah, we have a couple of charging points, charging stations here.

[00:14:55]>> Right.

[00:14:56]>> And if this bus, for instance, needs some immediate charging, it can charge can charge, you know, in 15-20 minutes, you know, for continuing of the operation.

[00:15:10]>> Yeah.

[00:15:10]>> We have, as you might see, great buses there. They are CNG buses.

[00:15:15]>> Right.

[00:15:16]>> Compressed natural gas.

[00:15:18]They are also eco-friendly, but it's, you know, our how to say, uh previous stage, but we are in uh different stage, so different space, but some part of the bus still use, you know, CNG, but we will not avoid uh completely usage of CNG bus.

[00:15:40]>> All right. Finally, as we wrap up this conversation, maybe just talk to the people who are watching across the world on the importance of using eco-friendly transport and at the same time, the importance of making sure that we're growing trees even within the city.

[00:15:56]>> Now, we are moving, you know, slightly moving to car-free and pedestrian-friendly city environment.

[00:16:03]>> Right.

[00:16:03]>> It's our aim.

[00:16:05]>> Right.

[00:16:05]>> Uh we know that uh emission uh emitted from, you know, cars, they are harmful for, you know, health >> Right.

[00:16:14]>> uh for environment as well.

[00:16:16]>> Mhm.

[00:16:16]>> Uh even uh today, we have some technologies which enable us to reduce uh >> emissions >> emissions.

[00:16:26]>> Yeah.

[00:16:26]>> Uh that's why uh for ensuring uh we are making, you know, our focus to uh green areas >> Right.

[00:16:34]>> and uh our main aim to increase, you know, our lifespan >> Right.

[00:16:39]>> of, you know, urban population and making our city life, you know, more attractive.

[00:16:45]>> Right. So, can I just ask one electrical?

[00:16:48]>> Yes, yes. Yes, yes, sure.

[00:16:55]>> [music] >> So, where do you start when you have money to pay?

[00:17:00]>> it starts from here, green port.

[00:17:04]Mhm.

[00:17:05]>> Aha.

[00:17:05]>> It started and we have here uh payment.

[00:17:12]>> [music] >> Okay.

[00:17:13]>> Yeah, now it's >> Once you enter, you make the payment through your card here.

[00:17:17]>> Yes.

[00:17:18]>> Yeah, see. That's right. Great.

[00:17:23]>> No, no, it's no, it's no.

[00:17:24]>> Then you make your payment.

[00:17:27]Oh, so you've made your payment.

[00:17:29]>> Yeah, and there are two exits.

[00:17:34]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> All right, so that's the first part of our show today all the way from Azerbaijan, Baku City. Now, we're going to want to show what they're doing to [music] make sure that even those who live in the urban center, they're living in an area where it's pollution-free.

[00:18:47][music] They're trying to control pollution. You know, in urban cities, there's a lot of cars, a lot of traffic congestion, and these cars release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and these gases contribute greatly to my humble [music] climate change. You understand?

[00:19:09]These greenhouse [music] gases play a very big role in the contribution to climate change. So, what are the solutions that they are putting in [music] place?

[00:19:19]So, one they're making sure they have electric vehicles and buses to move people around. Also, they're making sure [music] their cities they have friendly pathways for people to walk. That means we will reduce the distances that [music] we need and you know they release the greenhouse [music] gases. So, you have to make sure the city is friendly for people to walk and trees. Trees as if I could wish I could pick you up here even in the urban centers because [music] what they do, they absorb greenhouse gases and they release oxygen to the air which we need.

[00:19:52][music] Therefore, we need to make sure that we are growing enough trees in our urban centers and we have a guest and by the way to join later on in the show at 1:00 p.m. How are we performing as Nairobi City when it comes to going pollution-free and green as well. I can you better to go to me or Lisa so I knew wanted to find out my highly issue. What is the current state? Are you in a place that is heavily polluted and if that's the case, how is it impacting your way of life? Question of the day what is the current state of the environment in your area? So, my highly environment is our now before we take our first break here to tease fun joke question of the day only me Friday and I take a copy of the >> [music] >> easy peasy to What kind of an apple is not an apple? What kind of an apple is not an apple? To party in my Jubilee and we'll be reading them at the end of the show. See you after this week.

[00:20:53]>> [music]