Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto today launched county forest initiative aimed at planting one million trees in effort to attain 10 percent forest cover in the county.
The county commissioner joined Huduma Centre staff to plant over 1500 seedlings at KALRO Alupe to kick start the initiative.
Speaking after the launch, Ruto urged Busia residents to embrace environmental and forest conservation to mitigate climatic change.
“I urge the residents of Busia county to plant trees either in their homes, schools ,farms and even public spaces so that tree and forest cover is improved,” stated Ruto.
County Forest Conservator Vitalis Osodo called for massive investment into tree planting noting that the country which has a 5 percent forest cover was ranked among the lowest-forest countries in the region
Huduma Centre manager Nyongesa Caleb applauded the government and partners for joining in afforestation.
They urged the public to resort to using alternative means of energy rather than depending largely on firewood and charcoal.
“For the past few years, Kenya has experienced harsh climatic conditions so we are urging the public to resort to alternative means of energy like biogas, use of electricity among others,” noted Nyongesa.
Over 50,000 seedlings have so far been planted across the county
By Keith Otieno and Andera Stanslaus
