Uasin Gishu residents have been urged to plant more trees, conserve wetlands, and do proper solid waste management in order to have a sustainable environment suitable for human living.
Speaking in his office where he received 2000 tree seedlings from former athlete Moses Tanui, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago said the county government was keen on engaging athletes and using sports to champion environmental conservation.
The donation by the renowned athlete is part of the preparation for the Eldoret City Marathon slated for June 6, 2021 in Eldoret town.
The Eldoret City Marathon is anchored on climate Action through environmental conservation whose key objective is to use athletes and sports in general to champion environmental conservation. The trees donated will be planted at the Eldoret arboretum.
He said Eldoret City Marathon is an anchor for environmental conservation because for any sportsperson to be healthy they must have a clean environment.
The Governor emphasized the need for planting more trees and plants for purifying oxygen that is very crucial for athletes to participate in sports activities.
There has been a drop in the amount of oxygen in the environment because of pollution and the only solution for that is to plant more trees, said the Governor urging all residents of the county to turn out in large numbers to plant trees during the event as a way of communicating Eldoret City Marathon message.
The Eldoret Marathon city marathon will be the first, one in Kenya to be electronically timed and its theme is Climate Action.
In his remarks the Director, Eldoret City Marathon Moses Tanui said they intend to plant more than 3 million trees and other than climate Action they will continue to use the marathon to showcase young athletes who do not have managers, agents, and sponsors.
He added that the marathon has been used to discourage athletes against doping and tapping talents of young athletes that have been training for many years without having a chance to participate in major events.
By Kiptanui Cherono
