After fighting doping in sports, ADAK now joins fight against deforestation

ADAK CEO Sarah Shibutse (left) during the tree planting session in Kakamega.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) on Saturday embarked on a tree planting exercise where over 1000 trees were planted in response to the global call for action to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation with consensus to restore at least 30% of the degraded terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030. 

Guided by the African Landscape Restoration Initiative and the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign that was launched by President William Ruto awhile back, ADAK CEO Sarah Shibutse said the intuitions saw it fit to plant trees in order to meet the expectations of the president and nature.

Working alongside ADAK Board members and management, Shibutse revealed that every official planted at least 30 trees and 1000 trees in total.

ADAK Kenya officials and local authorities during the tree planting session at Kakamega Forest on Saturday.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

“We are here at Kakamega Forest as an institution and board members to plant trees. As you are aware, there is Presidential directive to plant 15 billion trees over the coming years and we as an institution we are proud to adhere to the same.

“In collaboration with the Kakamega Forest Foundation and Kenya Forest Service at the Kakamega Forest, each and every one from ADAK planted 30 trees as we gear towards achieving afforestation in the country,” said Shibutse.

President William Ruto last year in December launched a tree restoration program at Ngong Hills Forest in an effort to combat the effects of climate change in the country.

The initiative, which aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, will work to reduce greenhouse emissions, stop and reverse deforestation, and restore 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes through the African Landscape Restoration Initiative.

The first phase which is already running until 2027, will involve planting five billion trees, while the second phase, from 2027 to 2032, will focus on planting an additional 10 billion trees.

“Our aim is to help the President achieve his goal with the tree planting initiative,” added the CEO who said they are targeting Ngong and Karura Forest Tress.

ADAK CEO Sarah Shibutse (left) during the tree planting session in Kakamega.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Shibutse said Kenya is on the right trajectory in terms of fighting the doping menace in the country.

Generali Milano Marathon 2021 champion Titus Ekiru is the latest Kenyan to be banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) who recently handed the 31-year-old a 10-year ban.

Ekiru tested positive twice for the Presence of Prohibited Substances, or their metabolites or markers, in his in-competition urine samples at marathons which he won in 2021: the Generali Milano Marathon on 16 May 2021 (triamcinolone acetonide) and the Abu Dhabi Marathon on 26 November 2021 (pethidine and its marker norpethidine).

Head of Legal Services at ADKA Bildad Rogoncho said they have about 52 cases this year alone.