The Anglican Church of Kenya is set to plant and grow 15 million trees by end of 2026 as their contribution towards conserving the environment.
Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, said it is time the church also contributes to taking care of Mother Nature by planting at least two million trees every year.
Speaking at St Joseph ACK church in Kabireng, Nandi County, during the official launch of Green Anglicans Movement (GAM), Sapit said the church is passionate about collecting waste products and educating people on the importance of preserving the environment by planting trees.
“The earth belongs to God and today we gather here to surrender our service to him by taking good care of the environment. Let us make green our various institutions including schools, churches, colleges among others,” he said
GAM of Kenya has three thematic areas which include Climate Justice Advocacy, Theology of Creation and Communication as the cross-cutting themes.
The vibrant movement encourages members to take up their roles in being good stewards of God’s creation and ensure that the future generation will have a better place to live in.
The Anglican Archbishop further called for adoption of clean and efficient energy to reduce carbon emission of Anglican households and institutions through adoption of 100,000 energy efficient cook stoves and 50,000 solar energy solutions by 2026.
He said the use of wood energy for cooking has led to increased cutting down of trees hence threatening conservation efforts calling on Kenyans to use a cook stove that uses less charcoal and emits less smoke.
“Majority of women in rural areas are greatly affected by smoke produced when cooking and this puts them at great risk of getting respiratory diseases. This intervention will help reduce their vulnerability to health conditions and safeguard their dignity,” he pointed out.
Sapit called on Kenyans to develop a culture of proper waste management systems in institutions in order to keep the environment clean and healthy.
Environmentalists who attended the event called on church members to embrace the initiative of taking care of God’s creation by planting more trees and adapting Green efficient energy.
Alice Kipkoech, one of the beneficiaries of cook stove, a project being spearheaded by GAM in partnership with Efficient Energy Solutions Providers Mwangaza light, said it’s time Kenyans reduce dependency on wood fuel in order to promote eco stewardship.
“Environment is God’s creation and should be preserved for the sake of future generations,” she said adding that when you buy one cook stove, you are given 6 tree seedlings to plant.
The launch of GAM in Kenya in October 2018 at Machakos Diocese, focuses on the wholesome Environment pillar in the 10-year provincial strategy which runs from 2018-2027. The pillar focuses on environmental stewardship, awareness, advocacy, clean- ups and adoption of renewable source of energy.
By Linet Wafula