Kenya: The Kenya Forestry College organized the 47th edition of the college’s graduation ceremony for the students of the 2024 batch. The event was hosted at the college campus in Londiani Kericho County with several members of the KFS in attendance.
The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Forestry Aden Duale the guest of honour at the event. The Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko and the college Principal Dr. Elizabeth Wambugu gave him a warm welcome.
The leaders have shared several images from the event on their social media. This year saw the highest number of students to graduate from the course with 197 students graduating.
The students passed out of the college with various diplomas and certificates in Forestry and Environmental Management. The College which is an affiliate of KFS was established in 1956 and is the only college offering technical training in forestry at diploma and certificate level.
The guest of honor, Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale congratulated the students for their achievement. He also informed that opportunities were plenty in the conservation sector because of the need to reverse the detrimental effects of climate change.
He assured them that the ministry will always prioritise them whenever opportunities arise for technical officers who will assist in environmental conservation. The Cabinet Secretary has also confirmed that KFS will strictly adhere to procurement procedures when disposing off plantation materials.
Furthermore, PS for Forestry Mugambi Gitonga congratulated the students for a job well done and encouraged them to practice their profession with confidence.
Chairman of the KFS Board Titus Korir said that his Board will continue to give policy guidance to stakeholders. This will help in that will developing the college so that it can play significant role in producing professionals for the forestry sector.
The CCF commented on the ongoing goal s of the Kenya Forest Service. In his words, he emphasized on their role in the President’s aim of planting 15 Billion Trees in Kenya by 2032.
He said that the task of growing 15 billion trees was huge yet the number of technical officers to facilitate the process is low. Therefore, they have to help train more officers.
He congratulated the students and assured them that the profession was noble and critical for the future given the climate challenges affecting the planet.