Sacco says Kenya can attain UN forest cover goal before 2030

Kenya can achieve the United Nations requirement of the 10 per cent forest cover even before the global 2030 deadline if the country's youth and school going children are encouraged to plant more trees through support from the private sector and other conservation agencies.

Although the UN has classified Kenya as among countries with low forest cover, the Kenya Forestry Service says there is significant improvement with the country's forest cover standing at about seven percent and not two percent as earlier indicated by the global body.

Speaking yesterday in Narok County, a director with Kimisitu Credit and Cooperative Society, Steve Nyambuka said involving children in tree planning will enable Kenya achieve the global deadline faster.

Nyambuka was speaking when officials from the Sacco donated 5,000 tree seedlings to Hands to Hands Children's Home in Trans Mara Sub County to be planted by the children as part of conservation efforts.

He said it was the responsibility of every Kenyan to ensure that country regains its forest cover.

Kimisitu Sacco also donated foodstuffs worth Ksh 100,000 to the home as the organization celebrates 30 years of service.

"We have come here today to lend a hand to this Childrens Home we celebrate our 30 years of service to Kenyans as part of our Corporate Social responsibility, we also have a similar event going on at the House of Mercy Children's Home in Githurai, Nairobi County," said  the sacco's marketing manager Tobias Opany.

In Githurai the Sacco team led by Finance and Administration Manager Eunice Kanyi donated Sh200,000 comprising mattresses, chairs, paint and food stuff, besides painting one of the living rooms at the home.

Kimisitu mainly draws its membership from different organizations involved in conservation of forests.