Leaders brave heavy rains to plant trees in Central

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji leads residents of Embu in planting trees in Embu town and its environs. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

Tree planting also took place at the Nyewasco Kiganjo Water Treatment plant, in conjunction with the Department of Water, Environment, and Climate Change and Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company.

"I call on the Nyeri residents to join the noble walk in increasing our tree cover and ensuring we give our future generations a healthier Nyeri," Kahiga said.

In Isiolo County, which is one of the counties with the lowest tree cover at an estimated 6.7 per cent, Governor Abdi Guyo and Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla, participated in planting 1,112 tree seedlings at Waso Primary School.

Guyo called for Kinna, Kotim, Oldonyo Degushu and Motonyi forests to be gazetted to help the county develop forest-based micro-enterprises and community forest associations to increase indigenous forests in the county.

" The tree cover in our county is regrettably very low. Therefore, we need to gazette these areas as a participatory approach to manage our forests," he said.

In Laikipia county, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and Women Representative Jane Kagiri led the tree planting in Nanyuki town.

The leaders emphasized the need for residents to be proactive in tree planting and using energy-saving jikos to conserve the environment.

"Through my office, I shall be contributing 100,000 tree seedlings to the area. This initiative would also generate job opportunities for the youth and women groups," he said.

Kagiri committed to ensuring that learning institutions in the area plant fruit trees starting next year.

"In Laikipia County, we have 473 schools. I will donate fruit tree seedlings starting next year so that learners can enjoy the fruits after the trees mature," she said.

In Tharaka Nithi, Governor Muthomi Njuki issued two Executive Orders to conserve natural forests.

Njuki said people were destroying forested hills in the county through charcoal burning in the guise of bee-keeping.

"We will longer allow charcoal burning and beekeeping in our hills," Njuki said.

The county chief cited the Kijege Hills, Kera and Munguni Hills as worst hit by charcoal burning and said banning beekeeping in areas will serve to protect them from destruction.

- Reports by Boniface Gikandi, Purity Mwangi, Lydiah Nyawira, Amos Kiarie and Phares Mutembei

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