Ainamoi secondary school in Kericho has launched an ambitious tree planting exercise that will see the learning institution plant 1,000 tree seedlings yearly as a way of combating the effects of climate change in line with the government’s target of planting at least 15 billion trees by 2032.
The tree planting exercise held on Mazingira Day, had students and staff partner with Equity Bank Kericho branch to plant a donation of 1,000 indigenous tree seedlings within the school compound in a one-minute activity to kick off the initiative.
Addressing invited guests, staff and students at the school before the one-minute tree planting exercise, the school Principal Robert Korir appealed to the relevant stakeholders in the Ministry of Education to consider instituting a date in the school calendar for all schools within Kericho will engage in a ten-minute tree planting exercise with the goal of planting one million trees in a single day.
“I have a humble request to your esteemed office to consider setting a date for a ten-minute program in all schools within Kericho County with the target of planting one million trees.” said Principal Korir.
He called upon the students to embrace the culture of nurturing the tree seedlings to maturity.
Ainamoi Sub County Director of Education (SCDE) Mr Edward Wangamati thanked the institution for spearheading the tree planting initiative and leading by example.
“I want to thank the Principal for being environmentally conscious and for being able to source for partners to help us plant trees,” said SCDE Wangamati.
While applauding Equity Bank for their support, the SCDE urged both teachers and students to be actively involved in tree planting in their learning institutions all in a bid to increase forest cover.
“From the Presidential guidelines every student is expected to plant four trees. I and your teachers are expected to plant sixteen trees in a year so that we are able to reach that target of 15 Billion trees as directed by our President.” said SCDE Wangamati.
Present at the event was the Equity Bank Kericho branch manager Reuben Ruttoh who applauded the learning institution for the tremendous steps they had taken to ensure a greener environment that is in line with the bank’s environmental pillar which involves trees as a key pillar under the Equity Foundation.
“We still have about 5.6 Million to plant and this is part of this contribution. We shall be monitoring the trees planted at this school using the Tree response sensor (TRS) technology to see that the trees planted at this school are doing very well, “said Mr Ruttoh.
Equity Group Foundation through the Energy and Environment Pillar supports programmes that aim at increasing access, adoption and usage of clean energy technologies and environmental conservation in Africa. Equity is committed to planting 35 million trees by 2024 as part of the efforts to conserve the environment and supporting the government’s efforts to increase the forest cover to 30 per cent by 2027.
Ainamoi secondary school is a mixed public boarding secondary school in Ainamoi sub-county within Kericho County and it has a student population of 350 students.
By Sarah Njagi
