Kirinyaga County has launched a week-long environmental campaign targeting to plant 250,000 tree seedlings ahead of Saturday’s presidential tree-planting challenge at Thiba Dam.
The Environment Week activities were officially launched in Kutus town, where various stakeholders, including the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), Kirinyaga County Government, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Kenya Red Cross and the business community, participated in a town clean-up exercise.
The week-long campaign will culminate in the Presidential Tree Planting Challenge on Saturday, with organizers targeting to plant 60,000 seedlings in one hour at Thiba Dam.
Deputy Forest Conservator for Kirinyaga County Margaret Mugure outlined a series of activities lined up for the week. She said Tuesday would be dedicated to tree planting in schools and institutions, while Wednesday would see tree-planting activities in forest reserves.
On Thursday, residents and stakeholders will plant trees along roadsides and highways, while Friday will be dedicated to clean-up exercises in towns and markets.
“We encourage everyone to participate wherever they are, in planting trees and ensuring our environment is clean,” Mugure said.
She also urged residents to take responsibility for proper garbage disposal, warning against indiscriminate dumping.
Mugure asked the residents wishing to plant trees to go for seedlings from Kenya Forest Service nurseries, while additional seedlings would be available through local chiefs’ offices during Environment Week.
NEMA Kirinyaga County Director Beatrice Kananu urged residents who will not be able to travel to Thiba Dam to participate in the tree-planting exercise from wherever they are.
“On Saturday, we will wrap up our Environment Week with the Presidential Tree Planting Challenge, where we aim to plant 60,000 seedlings in one hour,” Kananu said.
She encouraged residents to plant trees on their farms, institutions and other suitable spaces and participate in the national campaign even if they could not attend the main event.
Jamleck Mureithi, Kirinyaga County Department of Environment official, said the activities were designed not only to increase the county’s tree cover but also to educate residents on environmental conservation. He said the programme would focus on tree planting, environmental cleanliness and proper waste disposal.
Mureithi also urged residents to record trees planted during the week through the Jaza Miti app, which is being used to track tree-planting efforts across the country.
“I welcome everyone who can attend the tree-planting event as instructed by the presidential directive,” he said, while thanking residents and partners for supporting the initiative.
The Kenya Red Cross Kirinyaga University representative, Kiptanui Dennis, called on young people to turn up in large numbers for Saturday’s tree-planting challenge. He said youth participation was critical in addressing the environmental threats that future generations are likely to face as a result of climate change.
“I would really like to ask my fellow youth to show up in large numbers on Saturday for the Presidential Challenge,” Dennis said.
He acknowledged the county government for giving young people an opportunity to participate in environmental conservation, saying the initiative demonstrated that the youth could play a constructive role in nation-building.
By Mutai Kipng’etich and Synthia Ochola
