Water sector stakeholders have intensified efforts to safeguard the country’s water resources through a tree-planting initiative that saw more than 400 Hass avocado seedlings planted at Rurii Primary School in Murang’a County.
The exercise was conducted under the WASPA/Equity Bank Tree Planting Initiative during the Water Services Providers Association (WASPA) Bi-Monthly Meeting hosted by Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco).
The meeting brought together water service providers from across the country to deliberate on innovative and sustainable solutions aimed at improving water service delivery and reducing non-revenue water.
Speaking during the event, Muwasco Managing Director Eng. Daniel Ng’ang’a said the initiative is aligned with the national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 and is intended to contribute towards increasing tree cover while promoting environmental conservation.
“We started by planting more than 10,000 fruit trees and donating more seedlings to public primary schools. This agenda is part of the broader efforts to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, not only in Murang’a but all over the country to ensure that we achieve the required tree cover,” said Ng’ang’a.
He noted that fruit trees provide multiple benefits, including environmental restoration, food security, and income generation, while helping communities appreciate the importance of conserving natural resources.
WASPA Chairman Thomas Odongo said water utilities have a direct responsibility in environmental conservation because the sustainability of water services depends on the protection of water catchment areas and other natural resources.
“The reason we are doing this as water utilities is because we are faced with challenges of water security due to pollution of water resources. It is important for water utilities to take part in water conservation. We are doing it in schools to inculcate the culture of environmental conservation from a young age,” said Odongo.
He observed that environmental degradation continues to threaten water availability across the country, making tree planting and ecosystem restoration critical interventions in securing water resources for future generations.
Murang’a Equity Bank Manager Ken Irungu said the initiative seeks to deliver both environmental and economic benefits to communities by promoting the planting of fruit trees.
“The whole idea of planting trees is to ensure the environment is green, prevent soil erosion, and also in turn benefit economically from the sale of fruits from the trees,” noted Irungu.
He added that involving schools in the programme would not only enhance environmental awareness among learners but also help them appreciate the value of sustainable agricultural practices.
Rurii Primary School Headteacher Rosa Ndirangu thanked Muwasco, WASPA, and Equity Bank for selecting the school to benefit from the initiative and pledged that the institution would take responsibility for nurturing the seedlings.
“We thank you for this generous donation and assure you that our pupils will adopt, nurture, and take care of the fruit trees accordingly so that they can grow and benefit the school and the wider community,” said Ndirangu.
The tree planting exercise was marked by active participation from pupils, teachers, and stakeholders, reflecting a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management.
The initiative forms part of ongoing national efforts to increase tree cover, restore degraded ecosystems, and mitigate the effects of climate change while promoting food security and sustainable livelihoods in communities across the country.
By Bernard Munyao
