Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo led the county Friday in marking World Environment Day at Kaimosi Friends University, Tiriki East sub county.
Speaking at the forum, Dr.Ottichillo highlighted some of the county’s successes in environmental conservation and the measures set in place to ensure continuity.
He said that as a county they had worked hard in restoring degraded landscapes in the area citing re-afforestation of indigenous community forests and even fencing them, particularly in Tiriki East and Hamisi sub counties.
He added that restoration of Maragoli hills into its natural ecosystem was also a good example of their major conservation works in the county, considering that it was a major water catchment area, through collaboration with partners like the Kaimosi Friends University.
Dr. Ottichilo further said that as a county they have also worked to ensure that remnant tropical forests found in Kaimosi and Kibiri forest are well conserved.
“Many of our wetland areas have been degraded especially through planting of eucalyptus trees and in the process, making our wetlands to disappear and therefore we have a tree program that would be launching soon to ensure systemic removal of eucalyptus trees, while replacing them with bamboos,” explained the governor.
He further revealed plans to build a bamboo industry in the county with investors all ready to invest in the venture, once the bamboo tress are grown to a scale that allows for commercial production.
“We have formulated a policy that is going to be approved by the county executive come next week, that would create a program to clear all eucalyptus trees from wetlands, therefore I urge all residents to remove them from wetlands and instead plant bamboo trees,” Ottichilo stated.
On climate change, the governor reiterated that Vihiga County had become a leader in climate issues worldwide, commenting on in his recent visit to the Vatican, where he had been put on the Roman’s Catholic Pope committee that is looking into how to deal with climate change.
“When the Senate committee recently came to inspect projects under the FLLoCA program (Financially Locally-led Climate Action programme) they applauded the county as having set standards that no other devolved unit had set, setting pace for other counties,” he said.
The governor further said that they were embarking on a journey as a county to do climate research and development and will fully support the newly launched CECARE (Centre of Excellence on Climate Action and Research) strategic plan at Kaimosi Friends University.
“The county has also adopted agroecology policy and we are in the process of putting up a law to allow for the adoption of production systems that are in sync with natural processes,” noted Ottichilo.
He also commented on the County’s move to smart agriculture that does not bring in elements that would destroy the proper functioning of natural ecosystems and their decision to adopt a circular economy to ensure that nothing goes to waste, with proper waste management.
By Yvonne Misango and Maureen Imbayi
