Boost for environment as many plant trees on Mazingira Day

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale presided over the inaugural Mazingira Day celebrations at the Nairobi Arboretum. [David Gichuru, Standard] The quest by the government to increase forest cover across the country received a boost after thousands of Kenyans gathered to plant trees to observe Mazingira Day yesterday. Government officials, environmental enthusiasts and county officials led the exercise in several counties as they pledged to conserve forests. In Kericho County, at least 11,000 trees and coffee seedlings were planted in Kipkelion East Constituency. Speaking at Tilolwet Primary School, MP Joseph Cherorot said each primary school within the constituency would receive 180 tree seedlings to further the tree planting efforts. "We are committed to environmental conservation, especially since part of the Mau Forest complex is located in Kipkelion East," Cherorot said. In Nakuru County, residents planted over 5,000 tree seedlings in several public schools in Nakuru City. This initiative was followed by a clean-up exercise in the Kimathi area, covering both Nakuru Town West and East sub-counties. Clean-up exercises and tree-planting initiatives were reported in Baringo, Samburu, Narok, Bomet, Nyandarua and Laikipia counties. In Nyanza, the exercise was led by senior government officials who challenged residents to plant trees. Migori County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua, Environment CEC Julius Nyerere and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) county director Tom Togo lead in cleaning markets in Migori town during Mazingira Day. [Anne Atieno, Standard] Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who presided over the event in Kisumu, called for continuous engagement of the young people in the ongoing efforts to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years. Speaking at Maseno School, Muturi said engaging the young people will help inculcate the culture of environmental protection and conservation. "Let us heed the call of preserving and conserving our environment for the future and for prosperity," he said. In Migori, officials from the county environment department, national government and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) conducted a cleaning exercise at Soko Mjinga market as they marked Mazingira day celebrations. Migori County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua, the county's health CEC Julius Nyerere and NEMA county director Tom Togo led in the cleaning exercise. In Mount Kenya region, Kirinyaga Environment CEC James Mutugi urged residents to adapt a culture of planting at least five trees. Mutugi was speaking in Kutus town after a cleanup exercise. In Murang'a, environmentalists gathered at General Ihura stadium where they observed Mazingira day. The environmentalists took part in cleaning Murang'a town and planting fruit trees at the County Assembly grounds to mark the day. In Meru, tens of residents came out to plant 70,000 trees at Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) in aid of cancer patients under the care of Meru Hospice. In the charitable initiative that has earned praise, residents and organisations came together to plant trees with two aims, to conserve the environment and assist cancer patients get medication. The Adopt a Tree for a Cancer Patient initiative saw Njuri Ncheke elders, business people, organisations and others come out to donate Sh1,000 per tree. While most planted one tree, some adopted up to 10 trees while some organisations adopted bigger numbers, a response that was appreciated by the hospice management. The hospice, which was established in 2000, has lost tens of patients in recent years and the management of the cash-strapped organisation is appealing for help from residents and organisations. Each year sees many succumb to various cancers, with close to 100 dying in a single year. Report by Nikko Tanui, Sofia Matoya, Phares Mutembei, Boniface Gikandi, Anne Atieno and Clinton Ambujo

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