Machakos Deputy County Commissioner David Rotich has urged Machakos County residents to plant more trees and nurture them, so as to increase forest cover in the region.
Speaking during a tree planting campaign at Kaseve Secondary School in Machakos County, Rotich said, “I urge the people from this region to plant more trees, take good care of them to be able to withstand the harsh climate change to ensure a large forest cover in the future.”
The deputy county commissioner also raised awareness to the public on environmental conservation and tree planting towards increasing the country’s forest cover by 30 percent by 2032.
He specifically encouraged the residents to plant fruit trees, medicinal trees and others that will be used for charcoal and can also feed cattle.
“Plant at least 5 trees each, two for fruit trees, two for charcoal and cattle food, and then one must be medicinal just as mwarubaini that is used for various purposes,” said Rotich, adding that they have plans to plant and grow the trees to persevere hot sun in the locality.
He noted that they have planted 300 trees at Kaseve Secondary and given out 1000 trees to locals so that they can plant on their farms and homesteads.
On her part, the Machakos Sub County Forest Officer Easter Mwanthi said people should learn how to plant trees because it was their responsibility to breathe in the fresh air and get food from the trees they have planted.
“When we have trees we have rain when we have rains, we have food,” said Mwanthi.
“I have the authority to arrest anyone who cuts trees without permission or a good cause,” she warned.
The tree planting exercise will officially start today, where the president will lead the country in launching the 2022 tree-growing campaign.
By Anne Kangero
