Makueni County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Urban Planning and Environment Dr. Paul Musila has called on leaders, parents and the community to encourage children to conserve the environment.
Dr. Musila was speaking during the celebrations of World Environment Day (WED) at Kwa Kea Comprehensive School in Mukaa Sub county where he noted that it was important to educate children on practical ways of conserving the environment so as to inculcate in them a sense of being responsible in the society.
He particularly lauded the students who presented songs, poems and skits that reflected on the theme of this year’s “A Global Call to Climate Action.”
“As leaders, parents and the community, we need to make sure we educate the children on practical ways of conserving the environment. This will make them be responsible citizens in preserving the environment and ensure sustainability for future generations,” said Dr. Musila.
“By the time I made my speech, the children impressed me through the songs, poems and skits, they actually had the message and they knew exactly what needs to be done as per this year’s theme,” he added.
The CECM emphasized the need for all people to contribute in conserving the environment by planting tree seedlings and ensure the tree grows to maturity in an effort to restore degraded areas.
During the event, Dr. Musila who presided over the WED, launched the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) scaling Strategy on a pilot basis in Kiangini and Kalie areas in Kathozweni Sub county and also in Makindu Sub county respectively.
He disclosed that the over used land will be fenced and left regenerate by itself without doing any farming or grazing of cattle in the areas for the next five years.
“If you can fence off the land and ensure no human or livestock activities happening, it has been proven the environment will be restored over the next few years,” he noted.
“That is the strategy we launched partnering with World Vision,” Dr. Musila said.
Speaking at the same event, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Makueni County Director Jimmy Owiti also echoed the same sentiments.
Owiti said that it was important to enhance education and awareness starting from the grassroot especially schools saying when children understand the need to conserve the environment at an early age, it will bring about sustainable development of the ecosystem.
Consequently, he observed that it was time to address matters of climate change and avoid mere words that cannot bring change in conserving the environment.
“It is time to stop mere talk, and instead take practical actions on matters of climate change, environmental conservation, and environmental restoration, “he said.
Mukaa Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Charles Igiha challenged the local residents to plant tree seedlings and ensure they grow to maturity in effort to improve and conserve the environment in the area.
“Don’t just plant but ensure the tree grows to maturity, provides shade and timber. If we support and heed the call, we shall achieve the government goals,” Igiha noted.
Also, some of the partners who addressed the gathering included World Vision, Jumuisha, INADES, Kenya Red Cross, Anglican Development Services, My Green Institution to mention a few.
During the celebrations, over 500 tree seedlings donated by Kyee Mbatha of My Green Institution, were planted.
By Patrick Nyakundi
