Kenyan nun honoured for her environmental work

A Kenyan religious sister was honoured for her work in environmental protection, on International Women's Day yesterday. Sr Veronica Thigah of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (ASN) was second among three nominees for the Environment Award sponsored by Eve magazine. Sr Veronica, 48, is currently serving in Kiriko Parish of the Archdiocese of Nairobi. She is a graduate in Agriculture from the Embu Institute of Agriculture in Kenya's Eastern Province. One of the first projects she undertook was the making of energy-saving home-made charcoal burners (jiko). She has since introduced the concept of fuel-less cookers, in which food cooks slowly in its own steam. Another of Sr Veronica's innovations is the kitchen garden where old tins, sacks, tyres and wheels are used as containers for manure and soil. Consequently, vegetables are grown from holes poked in the sides, using all available space. Sr Veronica also teaches about growing, managing and cooking alternative but highly nutritious foods such as rabbits and vegetable leaves. Currently, she is working with 157 groups in Thika, Murang'a, Kikuyu, Githunguri and other areas of Central Kenya. Though born in Gatitu, Nairobi Archdiocese, in 1957, Sr Thigah's home parish is Ng'arua in Nyahurur Diocese. She has an aunt, Sr Fidelis Memia ASN of the same congregation (Assumption Sisters of Nairobi). She is cousin to Fr John Muhindi, a priest of the Archdiocese of Nairobi. Source: CISA