An environmental lobby group dubbed Kiptapkei in Nandi County marked the world habitat day by planting 5000 trees at Kabikwen riparian land in Nandi East sub County as a measure to provide favourable habitat for wild animals with this year’s theme being ‘engaging youths to create a better urban future.’
Kiptapkei, which is a Community Based Organisation (CBO) that works on an innovative concept called token based reward system that involves local communities in which they do not sell seedlings but propagates seedlings of indigenous trees then plant them in degraded riparian areas as well as taking care of the planted trees to ensure they grow to maturity.
Speaking after the tree planting exercise kiptapkei CBO patron Joel Malakwen noted that the group has been planting trees along the riparian lands and wet lands with the aim of restoring the habitat for the vervet monkey adding that indigenous trees help in conserving wet lands.
“All organisms need a habitat to live in. When the vervet monkey thrives the crescent crane monkey which lives in the wet lands will also thrive. If we do not protect the degraded riparian land and wet lands we are likely to lose the vervet monkey,” divulged Malakwen noting that the CBO aims at planting 30,000 seedling in Kabikwen riparian land within a period of three months.
He further called on multinational tea estates to allow them conserve wet land in the estates by planting indigenous trees and protecting them as that is the culture of Kiptapkei CBO.
The patron urged youths to venture into constructive activities that can enable them earn a living like keeping bees, raring fish as well as propagating seedling terming it the best way to avoid idleness among the youths thus avoid alcohol and drug abuse, depression among others that are surging in the current hard economic era.
“When the habitat is conserved it provides a habitat for a number of living things among them bees and fish. I want to call upon youths to take part in protecting the habitat and utilize it to earn a living through bee keeping and aquaculture,” pointed the patron.
On his part Kaplelmet location chief David Bett lauded kiptapkei CBO for their initiative noting that this is a boost to the president’s initiative of planting 15billion trees within a period of 10 years.
The chief called on the community to extend the habit of planting trees at their homes as a way to take part in environmental conservation thus contribute to the presidential target which will in return tackle the issue of climate change.
“By planting trees we are cleaning the air we breathe and therefore improving our wellbeing in terms of health. Let us embrace tree planting as individuals,” stated chief Bett.
Rael Sanga a resident of Kabikwen who is also a herbalist noted that most indigenous trees have medicinal benefit a reason why locals should restore indigenous forests to make the herbs easily accessible.
“I want to appreciate Kiptapkei CBO for their initiative. When we destroy indigenous forests we are destroying our herbs. It is time we realize the importance of trees and plant them in plenty,” said Sanga.
Elly Melly who represented the youths urged parents who have riparian land and wet lands to allow youths who have realized the importance of protecting the habitat to plant indigenous trees adding that once the habitat for monkeys is conserved they will minimize destruction on crops, adding that youths can make such habitats productive.
“I want to call on our parents to allow us to plant trees at the wet lands. We want to be part of those conserving and protecting habitats instead of being idle,” said Melly.
By Ruth Mainye
