Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Mr. Gilbert Kitiyo wants stakeholders involved in the conservation of the environment to do so through a multi-agency approach.
He asked officials from both the national and county government departments and non-governmental organizations and other state agencies to consolidate their efforts to collectively work towards improving the environment.
Kitiyo made the recommendation in a speech read on his behalf by the Mbooni East Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mr. John Cheruiyot at South Eastern University of Kenya (SEKU) during the celebrations marking the World Environment Day (WED).
“There is a need to take stock on where we are and heading to as government, non-governmental organizations or individuals so that we can step up our efforts to plant more tree seedlings to promote conservation in the county,” he said.
While saying everyone has a role to play in conservation, the administrator said tree seedlings will be planted on hill tops and catchment areas however he did not mention the affected areas to be conserved.
Kitiyo discouraged the residents against cutting trees haphazardly saying it was everyone’s responsibility to protect and conserve the environment in the area.
The County Commissioner singled out main challenges afflicting the world including tackling pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change hence the need to reduce human activities that affect the environment negatively.
On the invasive species of Japanese doda (Cuscuta japonica) which is invading and destroying our biodiversity in Makueni, he thanked the stakeholders who turned up to remove the parasitic plant.
“The plant is invasive and parasitic and it colonizes the host tree, spreads very fast and extracts water and nutrients from it, as a result the tree dries and dies,” said Kitiyo.
He thanked those who participated to remove the plant that has no roots. This campaign was led by NEMA as a build-up exercise to the celebrations of the world Environment Day.
Also 1000 tree seedlings were planted on Saturday at Syaolowe primary school at Kilili location and another 300 tree seedlings were planted at SEKU. The Theme for this year was “Only Our Earth”.
Meanwhile the County Executive Committee Member (ECM) Lands, Urban Development, Environment and Climate Change Mr. Julius Kaloi said that the only strategy to secure and ensure Mother Nature is protected is to ensure everyone gets involved in conservation matters.
Further Kaloi said that efforts be made to ensure all agencies involved in conserving the environment have a common and well-coordinated approach in saving planet earth from degradation.
He particularly said that the youth need to embrace and participate in environmental activities.
The ECM further pointed out that as a county government they have taken measures in improving the environment by collecting and transporting waste from markets using Modern waste handling equipment (skip and loaders).
“We encourage promotion of sanitation and hygiene through cleaning of 142 towns and markets as well and employed over 500 casual cleaners,” said Kaloi.
By Patrick Nyakundi and William Kitheka
