The Green World Keepers, a Non-Governmental Organization founded by people living with albinism has planted over one million trees in 17 counties in the country.
Speaking when they distributed seedlings to churches in Narok on Sunday, the Green World Keepers founder; Angeline Kitte said they have been going round the country distributing trees seedlings in line with government policy to plant 1.8 billion trees around the country by 2020 to rehabilitate degraded environment and achieve the 10 per cent forest cover.
Kitte who is also the Environment ambassador of her organization raised concern over the rampant deforestation in Narok County especially in Mau water tower and appealed to the residents to plant trees.
The tree planting event was organized by the representative of persons with albinisms in collaboration with Green World Keepers, Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority and Team Environment distributed tree seedlings to over 15 churches in Narok.
The representative of persons with albinism in Narok and the host of the event, Ruben Sanare Mbatian said that his efforts to distribute and plant trees across churches was intended to motivate other persons with disability to also impact positive change in the society.
“I always say that the disabled person can also do much better than the abled person. People should know and get to understand that disability is not inability,” he said.
He urged parents in Narok not to hide their children born with disability, saying disability was not a curse and people with disability could achieve much in life just like normal people.
“If my parents had hidden me from the society and the community, we could not have had this event,” he said.
Sanare further asked local chiefs in various sub locations to assist him in identifying any persons with disability especially albinism hidden in homes in Narok.
Jane Monga, a team leader from Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) asked the recipients of the seedlings to take care of the planted trees so that such non-governmental organizations could continue heading back to Narok County for more tree planting campaigns.
“We will be back to check on the progress of our trees, the trees we are planting today are for the generations to come,” she added.
She also asked Ewaso- Ngiro South Development Authority (ENSDA) to not only continue with their environmental rehabilitation efforts of handing over tree seedlings for free but also give out fruit seedlings to residents so that they may also enjoy and gain monetary value for trees.
The tree planting event started in Nkareta area, in Narok North and will to continue for two more days. Over 13 churches were handed over tree seedlings on that day.
Pastor Daniel Keiwa of Covenant Church International (CCI) thanked the efforts made the people living with albinism role in conserving environment. He also promised the organizations that they would take care of the seedlings until their maturity.
By Mabel Keya – Shikuku
