By KARANJA NJOROGE
More than 20,000 seedlings will be planted in Mau Forest today during ceremony to be presided over by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Preparation at the 20 hectares site was in top gear on Wednesday.
Kenya Forest Service head of Mau Conservancy Cosmas Ikiugu said indigenous tree seedlings would be planted.
"We are happy other groups, including corporations and foreign governments, have joined in to have the Mau restored," Mr Ikiugu said.
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Tree planting is part of the events to mark the 2010 World Earth Day.
The event will take place at Songi Kabiyet in Eastern Mau, a few kilometres from Kiptunga where the last tree-planting event was held.
Today’s event, unlike the previous ceremony, has not been overshadowed by political overtones.
Gained support
Ikiugu said since the January launch, the conservation of the forest has gained momentum.
Two weeks ago, more than 500 students from the University of Nairobi planted more than 5,000 seedlings in the forest.
To support the restoration, 200 students from Maseno University also visited the forest in February to plant trees. Ikiugu said the community and students are expected to take part in today’s event.
He said KFS and the local community had protected and tended the 20,000 seedlings planted during the PM visit in January.
"The seedling are doing very well and the restoration of the forest is in progress," he said.
