Tree planting: Tourists join bid to make Masai Mara green

Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru led the tree-planting exercise within Mara. [Courtesy, Anne Waiguru X] Tens of tourists joined Kenyans in planting trees in Masai Mara, on Monday. Armed with more than 500 indigenous seedlings, tourists joined Narok county rangers, Sarova Mara and Keekorok staff to plant trees at a lookout area near the Mara River. "We are planting trees here to abide by the president's call to make Masai Mara green," said Maasai Mara chief warden Stephen ole Minis. Mitchel Halman from Montreal, Canada, a first-time visitor to Africa and Kenya who participated in the tree planting, said it was a special surprise for her to be able to leave a piece of each of her team members behind in Kenya by planting a tree. "We are so grateful to participate in this exercise, and we are so impressed with the green initiative here in Kenya. It's a lesson to all of us to take back to our country to be more diligent with what we do to the ecology," said Mitchel. Edmund Faze from England said participating in the tree planting was an amazing experience he will treasure for the rest of his life. "The tree planting exercise has gotten international recognition, and this will go down my heart for a long-lasting memory," said Faze. Sarova Mara Manager Nicholas Maina, who donated the trees, said the hotel chain has a programme dubbed Adopt a Tree, for their visitors and has extended it to the greater Mara to meet the President's call to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years. Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, alongside Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Patrick Mariru among other leaders who participated in a tree-planting initiative at Kabatini area in Bahati, Nakuru County, on November 13, 2023. [ Kipsang Joseph, Standard] Narok Governor Patrick ole Ntutu and State Department for Investment Promotion Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan Abubakar led the exercise at the Enoosupukia Forest where together with residents, they planted 100,000 trees. In Nakuru county, it is estimated that more than 275,000 trees were planted at Rhino Camp in Bahati sub-county. The event was presided over by Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru and Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, where indigenous and fruit trees were planted. Governor Susan said the county targets to plant 250 million trees in ten years. "The event has been successful. Of the total trees planted today, the military planted over 100,000 tree seedlings," she said. Commissioner General of Prisons John Warioba led politicians, judiciary officials, residents, and inmates in planting more than 12,000 trees at the 600 acres Nakuru Prisons farm. Warioba was joined by Nakuru Presiding Judge Hedwig Ong'udi, Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama, and the Chair of Law Society of Kenya Nakuru Chapter Henry Opondo, among others. The Commissioner General of Prisons said that inmates will be allowed to plant trees under supervision and the exercise will involve prison warders. MP Arama urged residents to demand tree seedlings from the government. In Naivasha, conservationists raised concern over rising cases of illegal logging around riparian land in Lake Naivasha. Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja lauded the presidential directive, saying that tree planting should be part of the people's lifestyle. She revisited the ban on logging saying that only mature trees should be targeted to protect the country's forest cover. Carina Jepchumba, a Form Two student noted that she has so far planted more than 500 trees and targets to plant 20 trees daily for the next one week. In Kericho, six women arrested for collecting firewood in the forest were allowed to walk away scot-free. Five thousand trees were planted in Tulwap, Kipsigis, where Principal Secretary in charge of Crop Development Paul Rono led the exercise. "I hereby, order that the charges they face be dropped. Kenya Forest Service is also, hereby, ordered to extend an amnesty to local cattle owners whose cows had been detained for grazing in the forest," said Rono. The PS revealed that a comprehensive forest audit, including the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (Pelis), grazing rights, and legal activities, would conclude in April next year. Kipkelion East MP Joseph Cherorot awarded residents who had turned up for the tree planting with 2,000 avocado seedlings. Reports by Caroline Chebet, Daniel Chege, Nikko Tanui, John Tiapukel, Anthony Gitonga

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