Narok Central Acting Deputy County Commissioner Abdi Shakur Ali presided over a tree planting exercise at Naisoya area where where more than 2300 tree seedlings at Olorroito Primary School.
Ali said the exercise aimed at motivating the residents to plant trees in their individual lands and public institutions so as to boost the forest cover from 15 per cent to 35 per cent in the year 2030.
“We encourage the residents to nurture the trees we are planting so that they can grow. We do not want to have a situation where we plant many seedlings that do not grow,” he said.
The Acting DCC commended the chiefs and village elders whom he said have been sensitizing the residents on the need to plant trees and as a result, many residents have visited the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) seedbed to request for seedlings.
“We are aiming to achieve the mark set by President Dr. William Ruto of planting over 15 billion tree seedlings in ten years’ period. If we all collaborate to plant trees, then we will achieve our target,” he added.
He was accompanied by his Sub County Police Commander John Momanyi, officials from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), heads of departments, local chiefs, village elders among others.
Ali reminded the residents of the multiple benefits that come with trees saying trees can be planted for food, for sale, to provide shade, to act as wind breakers, to prevent soil erosion and for beauty.
He took issue with loggers who cut trees illegally saying those found committing the crime risk being arrested and prosecuted in court of law.
The county has planted over 750, 000 tree seedlings this year with most of the seedlings having been planted at the Maasai Mau forest, schools and on wetlands areas.
At the same time, the acting DCC warned residents against practicing retrogressive culture like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and teenage marriage saying many people have been charged in court of law for abetting the practices.
By Ann Salaton
