International Earth Day celebrations were held on Friday (22nd April) at Yumbisye Primary School in Kitui Central, Kitui county, where the theme of 2022 was ‘invest in our planet’.
Kitui residents were called to join hands to ensure that the available tree cover is conserved and more trees planted to increase food production because a good climate contributes to increased food production.
Janet Syombua Mumo, the leader of the Kitui Development Center, affirmed that Kitui County could plant more than 5.5 million trees by the end of 2022 only if each person plants five trees.
“Let’s come onboard all of us to plant more trees in our region, and as KDC, we are targetting to distribute more than 50,000 seedlings to Kitui farmers, and we will be reaching out to the people especially women who have formed self groups to educate them on how to conserve the environment,” she said.
Wickliffe Matika from the International Tree Foundation, one of the partners at the event, stated that they are geared towards ensuring that residents at the grassroots get tree seedlings and are encouraged to plant more trees.
“We join the whole world to commemorate the earth day, and as we know, we are like parasites to our trees, and that’s why we should take good care of them. We are also celebrating 100 years since our foundation. We celebrate the efforts that we have made to protect endangered species, we have planted more than two billion trees, and this has greatly led to food security,” he stated.
“Kitui is one of the counties of the dry land listed in our program. We have taken an initiative to sensitize the residents to conserve the environment and promote farmers by giving them seedlings to increase the forestry cover.” Matika added.
He also called upon all the stakeholders, including the Kitui residents, to come together because they need everyone on board to ensure that the environment is well conserved.
Shufar Omar Mjuma, the Katulani Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner at the event, reiterated that it is an important day to see that 327 trees are planted and is a great boost to forest cover in her area of administration.
“The initiative of conserving the environment is for us all as stipulated in our laws, and my administration will ensure that the residents conserve the trees available and will have a coordinating role to engage the stakeholders which have been at the forefront of ensuring that they give more seedlings to the people,” she stated.
The event was organized by Kitui Development Center together with International Tree Foundation, One Tree Planted, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), the County Government of Kitui, and Kenya Forestry Service.
