Narok County Commissioner (CC) Kipkech Lotiatia has challenged all government officers in the county to plant at least 500 trees yearly in a bid to achieve a target of planting 45 million tree seedlings yearly so as to mitigate effects of climate change.
Lotiatia urged public officers to create a routine of planting trees in their office compounds as well as around their individual homes during the approaching short rains season.
“All departments should ensure that officers under them have a plan of planting trees during the oncoming rainy season. This will help us achieve a target of 45 million trees yearly,” he said.
The administrator was speaking at the County Service Delivery meeting held at the commissioner’s boardroom where all county heads of department were represented.
The officers were tasked to liaise with the Kenya Forest Officers so as to get the expertise needed in growing trees as specific tree species do well in certain climatic zones.
He called on Kenya Forest Service to support the putting up of tree seedlings in different parts of the county, where all people can access them easily and plant in their individual homes.
Lotiatia commended the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) for spearheading the planting of trees during public barazas and government functions, which has led to an increase in the number of trees planted in the county.
At the same time, the commissioner reported that the World Vision organization had committed to plant about 17 million trees at the Maasai Mau Forest in the next five years.
“The World Vision is doing a commendable job of planting trees at the Maasai Mau Forest to improve tree coverage in the county. In addition, they will employ hundreds of youths to plant and tender the tree seedlings,” he said.
The administrator also took the opportunity to invite all government officials and members of the public to a tree planting occasion at Ole Ntutu Arid Zone school on October 10, which will be led by the Cabinet Secretary for Defense, Soipan Tuya.
The Kenya Kwanza administration launched an ambitious plan in 2022 to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase the county’s forest cover from 12 per cent to 30 per cent and combat climate change.
by Ann Salaton
