Narok County Journalists Association in collaboration with the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) have planted about 200 tree seedlings at the Narok County Information Office ground.
The initiative was in line with the Presidential directive to plant about 15 billion trees in a ten-year period in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The exercise led by Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde and County Ecosystem Conservator Daniel Mkung saw over 20 journalists drawn from Narok county participate in the tree planting exercise.
Commissioner Masinde commended the journalists for the initiative to plant trees and asked all government officials to follow suit and ensure they plant trees in their compound premises as directed by the president.
This year, the commissioner said, the county has planted about 79, 000 trees in various parts of the county and expected to plant more trees during the rainy season.
“We began with the Maasai Mau forest where we planted 30, 000 trees during the launch of the tree planting exercise. We encourage every resident to plant trees in their homes and institutions,” said Masinde.
On his part, Mkung said the tree coverage in the county was currently at 16 percent but had a target of attaining 30 percent tree cover by the end of the ten years.
He said his department with other well-wishers have planted over 3.1 million trees in the Maasai Mau asking other well-wishers to adopt a block at the Maasai Mau forest as about 30 blocks are yet to be adapted.
“One block is equivalent to one square kilometer and can accommodate up to 110, 000 trees. We invite any willing and organized organization to adopt a block,” he said.
Mkung, who had provided the seedlings, commended the journalists for good work and asked them to adopt a block at the Maasai Mau forest.
Also present in the tree planting exercise was the Office of Director of Public Prosecution ODPP Senior council Duncan Ondimu and Narok County ICT officer Cyrus Ngetich.
Ondimu said his office will continue collaborating with journalists to plant trees and sensitize members of the public on the need to plant trees.
“Cases of illegal logging are becoming common in our courts. It is time we sensitize the members of the public on the need to plant trees as we lead by example,” he said.
Narok County Journalists Association Chairman Wilson Marima said the initiative by the journalists is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to create awareness to the public on the need to plant trees.
By Ann Salaton
