Communities in Kericho County have been urged to embrace tree planting as part of efforts to conserve the environment and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change which continue to impact weather patterns and livelihoods.
Speaking during this year’s World Environment Day celebrations held at the Kericho Township Technical and Vocational College (KTTVC), Kericho Land and Environment Court Judge Lady Justice Lynette Omollo said protecting the environmental was a collective duty enshrined in the Constitution and required action from every Kenyan to safeguard it for present and future generations while commending the President’s plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
“I particularly like Article 69(1)(b) of the Constitution, which tells the State to work towards achieving and maintaining a tree cover of at least 10 per cent of Kenya’s land area. I want to believe this is in consonance with our President’s vision of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032. It is the duty of citizens to cooperate with State organs and other persons in protecting and conserving the environment.” she said.
She observed the erratic weather patterns being experienced in the region were a clear indication that climate change was no longer a distant threat but a present reality.
“The world is facing climate crisis. Am sure in Kericho we are dealing with it quietly. I have observed when I came to Kericho two years ago, March was a very rainy month but his year I believe March was drier. April was much drier. It feels like we are experiencing the March weather in June. This tells you that climate change in not a myth, it is a reality and we must make purposeful efforts to combat it.
Justice Omollo noted that trees play a critical role in mitigating climate change by acting as natural carbon sinks.
She explained that trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and store it in their trunks, branches and roots and surrounding soil effectively reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming while noting that this carbon storage capacity forms the basis of carbon credits, where efforts to reduce or remove carbon emissions can generate measurable environmental benefits.
The Kericho Land and Environment Judge maintained that planting more trees would help trap greater amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the effects of global warming improve air quality and contribute significantly to national and global climate change mitigation efforts.
She commended the TVET institution for transitioning from grid electricity to solar energy as parts of efforts to reduce its carbon footprints and urged the Kericho National Environment and Management Authority NEMA) office to engage the institution on opportunities for generating income through carbon credit programs arising from its environmental conservation initiatives.
“I hope the NEMA director you are in talks with KTTVC so that they know how to earn carbon credits from using solar energy. These are the things a lot of us do not know about that when we do certain things that save the environment from carbon then there is credit you earn and that you can sell this credit and you can make money from them.” noted Justice Omollo.
She revealed that the government had set aside funds for climate financing and urged stakeholders to intensify public sensitization efforts so that communities are aware of and can benefit from the resources available for climate change mitigation and adaptation programs.
Present at the event was the KTTVC Principal Shadrack Tonui who said trees not only add to the beauty of the environment but are also a lifeline for future generations, helping to combat climate change, conserve water resources and create healthier and more sustainable ecosystems.
Among those invited was the Kericho NEMA director Moses Moringat, representative from the Kericho County Commissioners office, officers from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) among others.
During the event a total of 3,500 indigenous tree seedlings were planted within the KTTVC grounds as part of efforts to increase tree cover and promote environmental conservation.
The official theme for World Environmental Day 2026 is “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For our Future.”
By Sarah Njagi
