Standard Group partners with corporates to plant trees

Eka Hotel sales manager Fred Bita (left), Eldoret Club acting manager Sharon Murgor, SG Editor-in-Chief Ochieng Rapuro and Eldoret Hospital Business Development Manager Kagwathi Kamau. [Titus Too, Standard]

Standard Group PLC has partnered with other corporates in environmental conservation initiatives to address adverse effects of climate change.

The Standard Group Editor-in-Chief Ochieng Rapuro said the company is playing its part in the national rallying call to plant more trees, green the environment and reduce the progression of global warming.

“This is part of the greater agenda of Standard Group. We are very environment sensitive and conscious. Our natural environment is interconnected to how we live. It speaks to our lives and therefore, it is a call to action towards attaining the targeted 15 billion trees,” said Mr Rapuro.

He noted that statistics released recently indicated that 2024 is the historic 12th hottest year in a row and thus the need to swing into action to curb the trend.

Rapuro was speaking during a tree planting drive after the close of Standard Group sponsored County Golf Classic series tournament at the Eldoret Club in Uasin Gishu county over the weekend.

The tournament advocated for sustainable climate change and brought together partners of Standard Group, attracting more than 120 golfers drawn from Nairobi, Kitale, Nandi, Njoro, Kericho, Kisumu and Kakamega.

“As a Group, we have partnered with our brothers and sisters to plant trees as we play collectively in our roles to conserve the environment,” Rapuro said.

Eka Hotel senior sales accounts manager Fred Bita said the hotel was proud to partner with Standard Group during the County Classic Golf tournament and tree planting.

 Standard Group Editor-in-Chief Ochieng Rapuro plants a tree during the County Golf Classic series tournament at the Eldoret Club. [Titus Too, Standard]

“As a hospitality facility brand, we are going green. Being part of our environmental conservation initiatives, our processes and systems are now going paperless. In June, we started an initiative to stop use of plastic. We no longer use bottled water but dispensers,” said Bita. 

Sharon Murgor, the Eldoret Club acting manager appreciated support of partners, including Standard Group, who regularly sponsor tournaments and also take part in tree planting initiatives.

“We share in the joy of tree planting to conserve our environment as we walk the way to planting 15 billion trees within 10 years. This year, Eldoret Club, will be marking 100 years since its inception and we will be inviting corporates to take part in activities including conservation efforts,” said  Murgor.

She said the Club is proud of the support received from sponsors of Golf sport.

“Eldoret Club is a leading Golf course in the North Rift region and we appreciate the support we get from sponsors of the sport,” Murgor said.

Eldoret Hospital Business Development Manager Kagwathi Kamau hailed Standard Group’s sustainable climate change golf tournament.

Kamau said Eldoret Hospital is at the forefront in environmental conservation initiatives to improve the quality of air and combat respiratory diseases.

“As Eldoret Hospital turns 50 years since it was founded, we target better outcomes in healthcare provision. We are taking part in programs to protect environment and reduce respiratory diseases. We are partnering with corporates to ensure targets are achieved,” he said.

Partners including Eka Hotel, the title sponsor, Eldoret Hospital, Eldoret Club and Eldoret Technical Training Institute (ETTI) also participated in tree planting after the tournament that advocated for action against climate change.

Cyrus Kataron emerged the overall winner after firing 39 stableford points to beat the 107 participants. Jane Kokech won in the women’s category with 36.