Learning institutions in Busia County have been urged to plant trees to help in improving and conserving the environment as a way of handling climate-related challenges.
Speaking at St Monica Chakol Girls High School during the school’s environment day, Teso South Sub County Director of Education Martin Likoko said there is a need to ensure that schools have trees for a conducive environment.
“My urge is to all schools to ensure they plant trees so that we can change the environments of our learning institutions. Some of the trees help as windbreakers, and this will save our schools from calamities caused by wind,” he said.
Likoko added that the emphasis should also be on planting fruit trees that will ensure students get fruits that will help improve their health.
Busia County Linda Mazingira Coordinator Partick Ikwara also called on stakeholders to help in supporting institutions in tree planting.
“National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) has given us 1000 seedlings while Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has given us 500 seedlings. There is a need to support these schools so that we can have a good environment in our schools.
The schools should also ensure that after planting, we take care of these trees. Busia County is the second last in tree and forest cover after Siaya County but if we can involve stakeholders in this initiative, our tree cover will increase,” he said.
Ikwara said they have planted different tree species that are useful to the needs of the community and the school.
Busia County NACADA Coordinator Zeka Wekesa said planting of trees should be a collective responsibility to achieve the presidential target.
“We know as a nation we must plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and these are some of the interventions that should help us to achieve this. We should plant many trees so that we can change the environment of our nation,” he said.
Wekesa added that as an authority, they are also using the opportunity to sensitize students against drug abuse. “We are also educating students on how they can prevent themselves from drugs and addiction. We have also been informing them on the importance of growing up as responsible Kenyans and how we can build a nation free from drug addiction,” he said.
St Monica Chakol Girls High School Principal Jackline Itubo said the school has been planting trees, adding, “We have planted 1500 today and we have been doing the same exercise many times. We currently have many young trees in our school; in 3 years to come, our school will be like a forest.”
Itubo added they have been advising students to plant trees at home and school because that’s a responsibility for all Kenyans. The principal said planting trees guarantees future generations a better environment.
Busia County KUPPET Secretary General Moffat Okisai urged students to ensure they always plant trees whenever they get the opportunity.
“My urge to the stakeholders is to ensure they spread these initiatives to all schools in the county so that we can have a good environment in our schools. To the students, they should ensure every time during the rainy season they plant trees at school and home so that they can benefit from them in later days,” he advised.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
