Government officials and residents of Kajiado North joined the rest of the world in marking the World Environment Day at the Kajiado North Deputy County Commissioner’s complex in Ngong, Kajiado County.
The celebrations featured Kajiado North Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Yusuf Mohammed, officers from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and learners from Oloolua primary school and Joram GM academy.
Mohammed expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders who turned up to celebrate the World Environment Day.
He emphasized that a well-kept environment results in the safety of residents especially in terms of their health.
Mohammed assured residents that his office is working hand in hand with the county government to ensure that the issue of improper sewage disposal is dealt with accordingly.
Speaking to KNA the DCC emphasized that environmental conservation campaigns should involve young people so that it will be more of growing the trees than planting them.
The reason behind it is that when the young generation is involved they will not allow anyone to destroy the environment, which they have been conserving since they were young.
The DCC together with the learners proceed to tree planting around the DCC complex. Afterwards Mohammed officially launched a walk to Ngong hills. The walk had been organized by the founder of Young Green Army Club, Abel Ondigi.
Ondigi highlighted the club’s main initiative is to inform young people on the importance of conserving the environment and teach them various ways to attain the same including tree planting and kitchen gardening.
“I was trained on environmental conservation when I was in class eight, therefore, I saw it fit to pass the knowledge to the young generation. So far with the kids we have been able to plant 2.2 million trees in the last four years,” Ondigi noted.
Additionally, Ondigi noted the club’s vision to have planted five (5) million trees by the year 2030.
He added that they not only participate in tree planting but also do monitoring and evaluation of their projects.
An officer from Kenya Forest Service, Corporal Isaac Mboroki, appreciated the government for passing the bill that allows for a 10 year jail term or 1 million cash bail for unlawful cutting of trees and forests.
“As a young person and a resident of Kajiado North I am happy to be part of today’s world Environment Day celebrations and I would urge my fellow young people who are the gen-z to embrace environmental conservation for the benefits of our future and the future of our kids because when we take care of our environment in returns mother nature has her own way of rewarding, so I urge young generation to take up this responsibility,” said John Mwangi, a Ngong town resident.
World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5th June and it encourages awareness and action for protection of the environment.
It is supported by a host of world NGOs, organizations, businesses, government entities, representing the primary United Nations outreach day for supporting the environment.
By Newtone Mbuka and Peter Muteti
