The state department for technical training will this week plant one million trees countrywide as part of its efforts to meet the target of 5 million trees allocated to the department.
According to a director with the department Anne Kamonjo, the department was partnering with TVET institutions to contribute to the planting of 15 billion trees by 2030.
Speaking at Kessup forest in Elgeyo Marakwet county when she led over 10 institutions from both Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties in planting trees, the director said they had decided to adopt degraded areas be it in forests or wetlands to plant trees.
“By doing this, it becomes easier to ensure that we don’t just plant trees but ensure we monitor them until they grow, ” she said.
She added that by involving the youth, the department aimed at imparting the youth with practical skills to not only conserve the environment but also to plant trees and nurture them to maturity in their homes and communities.
The principal Kipsoen National Technical Training Institute Joseph Bittok said this was the third edition of tree planting being undertaken by the institution saying they planted 52,000 cyprus trees.
He said while previously they had been planting alone, he was happy that this time 6 Tvets from neighbouring Uasin Gishu and 4 from the county had joined them.
“We are delighted that apart from Tvets, this time we have also been joined by students from Moi University and also University of Eldoret,” he said.
Bittok said the adoption of a block at Kessup forest had ensured that trees planted are nurtured to ensure they grow, saying in their first edition 80% of the trees planted survived.
“We have been ensuring that we monitor our trees and that is why we went back and ensured that the 20% trees that didn’t survive were replanted,” he said
He hailed the Kenya Forest Service for allowing them to adopt a forest and also providing the seedlings saying they have been posting their success with the KFS.
by Alice Wanjiru
