Sponsors to plant trees at Eldoret Arboretum

From left; Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu, Eldoret City Marathon chairman Andrew Chelogoi and race director Moses Tanui plant a tree at Eldoret Arboretum last year. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

All is set for Eldoret City Marathon’s Climate Action ceremony at the Eldoret Arboretum today, hours to tomorrow's race.

The Climate Action event, which is marked by tree planting a day to the race, brings together the race’s sponsors at the newly established Eldoret Arboretum.

Uasin Gishu County, which is the race’s biggest sponsor, will be represented by Governor Jackson Mandago.

The new arboretum was established in 2020 as part of the beautification of Eldoret, a town which is seeking to gain elevation to city status.

Standard Group PLC – the marathon’s media partner, will be represented by its CEO Orlando Lyomu.

Race organisers said the tree planting exercise will be ceremonial and that 200 trees will be planted because of delay in rainfall this year.

“It will be a ceremonial event, and we expect all our sponsors to turn up. Only 200 trees will be planted awaiting the falling of the rains. We will plant more trees as soon as the rains fall,” Race chairman Andrew Chelogoi said.

Chelogoi said the Climate Action initiative was informed by decreasing forest cover in areas where elite athletes trained in preparation for international races.

A number of corporate sponsors such as Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS), Kenya Seed and Raiply among others will be taking part in the event, according to organisers.

The Kenya Forest Service and Uasin Gishu County’s department of environment has been in charge of the Climate Action plan.

Uasin Gishu County Executive in charge of Environment Mary Njogu said all the tree seedlings that will be planted across Uasin Gishu are ready for planting at the onset of the rains.