Kenya: President William Ruto arrived at the Simotwo High School as a Chief Guest during the commemoration of the 9th Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme. He was ushered to a tree growing session by the Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Alex Lemarkoko and the KFS Board Chairman Mr. Titus Korir.
The Head of State was accompanied by the senior government officials including the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry – Dr. Deborah Barasa and the Patron of KICP and the PS of the National Treasury – Dr. Chris Kiptoo.
Along with this, President of Kenya also toured the KFS stand, which is to be updated on the progress of the 15 billion Tree Growing Campaign as well the conservation of the Kaptagat Forest Ecosystem. The latest edition of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme (KICP) was observed at Simotwo Boys High School, in Keiyo South, Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Ruto took the opportunity to announce that the government will provide funds to fence the Kaptagat Forest Ecosystem as part of the plan to fence all state forests in order to improve their protection. He noted that as an important ecosystem and water catchment area, the forest needed to be protected from illegal activities while giving the local community access and an opportunity to continue with their conservation and livelihood activities as espoused in the participatory forest management plans and agreements.
The President of Kenya further led the plantation of over 400 avocado seedlings at the school and issued 50,000 avocado seedlings and 100,000 coffee seedlings to farmers as part of a programme meant to diversify their sources of income and improve their livelihoods.
While addressing the public, President William Ruto said that the country needed to grow its forest cover in order to forestall the negative effects of climate change. He applauded the whole government, a whole society approach led by the Ministry Environment, Climate Change and Forestry that had seen the growing of over 840 million trees in the 15 billion tree growing campaign.
Considering this, at the event, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry – Dr. Deborah Barasa said that the ministry was at the forefront of forest restoration and conservation in a bid to make the country achieve environmental and economic sustainability.
Dr. Barasa thanked the Patron of KICP and PS for the National Treasury Dr. Chris Kiptoo for the programme that she noted was not only conserving a critical water catchment area but also improving the livelihoods of the local community.
The event was preceded by a tree growing exercise at Kipkabus Forest Station where over 60,000 seedlings were planted on 34.5 ha.
Notably, the Head of State was accompanied by senior government officers including the CS for Interior and National Administration – Kipchumba Murkomen, the CS for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation – Eng. Eric Muriithi Muuga, the CS for East Africa Community, ASALs and Regional Development – Ms. Beatrice Askul Moe, the PS for Forestry Mr. Mugambi Gitonga and his Environment and Climate Change counterpart – Eng. Festus Ng’eno, KFS Board Chairman – Mr. Titus Korir and the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) – Mr. Alex Lemarkoko among other officers.