By K, KNA
Residents of Nyandarua County have been challenged to avoid destruction of trees as a way of enhancing conservation of the environment.
Olkalou Central Sub County Deputy Commissioner, Michael Ololtuaa called upon the residents to fast track tree planting exercise towards achievement of targeted 15 billion trees.
Ololtuaa who was addressing the residents at Olkalou A.C.K Primary School, in Olkalou town, Nyandarua County during Olkalou town clean up and tree planting exercise during Mazingira Day celebrations appreciated the Anglican Church for partnering with the state in the tree planting exercise.
“The church and state should work together towards common goals notably during environment conservation,” noted Ololtuaa.
However, the DCC challenged the residents to embrace the cleaning of their towns and tree planting exercises not only during Mazingira Day but as a regular exercise.
He called upon all stakeholders to work closely to enhance cleanliness of their towns as well as enhancing tree cover in their locality.
Bishop Rt. Rev. Major(Rtd) Samsom Gachathi of A.C.K Diocese of Nyahururu called upon all stakeholders to join hands to make our environment conducive to live in.
The Bishop added that man should take responsibility of cleanliness and caring for the environment as a God’s given responsibility.
The cleric said that in the book of Genesis when God created garden of Aden and then created man, he gave him responsibility of taking care of the creation and hence cleaning our towns and planting trees is not only directive from the government but God Himself.
Bishop Gachathi said the Anglican Church has been engaging in taking care of the environment through Green Anglican Movement (GAM) which celebrates Green Anglicans Day in Anglican calendar which this year coincided with the Mazingira Day hence the church partnered with the state to celebrate the event.
“Through Green Anglican Movement, the diocese had organised an exercise to clean Olkalou town to mark Green Anglican Day, however the day coincided with Mazingira Day hence the church had to join in celebrating the events,” added the Bishop.
He also echoed the sentiment of the DCC that the exercise of cleaning our towns and tree planting, should not be limited to Mazingira Day but should be a regular exercise.
Nyandarua Chief Officer for Roads and Transport, Eng. Peter Karanja who graced the occasion urged the members of public to enhance tree planting citing that it enhances cleanliness of the environment and the water they drink.
Eng. Karanja also noted that we are enjoying the good environment due to current trees which were planted by earlier generations and hence we need to embrace tree planting exercise for the generation to come.
The exercises of cleaning Olkalou town and tree planting at Olkalou A.C.K Primary was graced by stakeholders such as Equity Bank, Kenya Red Cross, Equity Afya, Green Anglican Movement, Lions Club of Nyandarua among others.