The Ministry of Education has planted 30 million trees through schools, colleges and universities so far in efforts towards curbing the negative effects of climate change, Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has said.
Speaking during a tree planting event at Siala Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Rongo on Tuesday, CS Ogamba lauded the efforts saying the ministry was almost hitting its target of growing 35 million trees annually.
The CS led students and staff in planting tree seedlings as part of the Accelerated Tree Growing Programme.
He said that the programme is a government-wide approach aimed at forestation and environment conservation across the country.
Ogamba called on heads of institutions of higher learning to join in on the conservation bandwagon against climate change.
He said that the programme was meant to bring on board schools to inculcate the culture of tree planting and environmental conservation among learners and neighbouring communities.
Migori County Director of Education (CDE) Jacob Onyiego thanked the CS for reinforcing efforts by the institution to increase forest cover in the region.
He also lauded the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the Special Programmes Africa Chapter (SPAC) Grace Nyaera for supporting tree planting by providing tree seedlings and lending her expertise.
“Our students have benefited alot from this team and we ask them not to tire from their generosity,” he said.
Nyaera said that her team has been on the ground for the last two years and was partnering with secondary schools including Cardinal Otunga Mosocho High school, Kisii School, Nyansiongo in Nyamira county, and Taranganya boys and Rapogi boys from Migori county.
She appealed to other learning institutions in the region to visit the mentioned schools for benchmarking.
By Enock Okong’o
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