Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkory flagged off the start of a tree planting campaign to conserve the Mt Elgon water tower.
She kicked off the campaign that targets to plant over 10,000 trees in an efforts to increase the country’s forest cover where the Jumbo Charge conservators were already undertaking the initiative at Kiptogot forest in Endebbes Sub County.
Mrs. Kapkory lauded the initiative citing that it reflects what has been captured in their campaign manifesto and pledged that the County government would partner with Jumbo Charge in the programme.
She said the county administration seeks to brand and market Trans Nzoia as a tourism hub and that such efforts which contribute to the growth of the sub sector come in handy.
The deputy governor observed that the Mt. Elgon ecosystem has been underutilized and promised that much would be done to promote tourism activities in the region.
“Mt. Elgon stretches in two counties, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia and also falls in Kenya and Uganda and there is need for a collective effort in conserving it,” she said while calling for concerted efforts to conserve the ecosystem.
Further, noted the deputy governor, the activities promote conservation of the Mt. Elgon water catchment area as well as the Mt. Elgon national park.
She observed that it would be great if Jumbo Charge could scale up to international levels beginning with neighbouring countries such as Uganda.
Water and Environment County Executive Aggrey Chemonges echoed the deputy governor’s sentiments underscoring the importance of tree planting in the preservation of the environment.
Mutinde of Jumbo Charge disclosed that last year, the organization planted 20 acres of tree seedlings in Bungoma County and that it intended to plant at least one million trees across the country in a year.
By Kosuri Valarie
