Mathioya to plant 5 million trees in two years

Mathioya constituency plans to plant more than 5 million trees in the next two years. Area MP Clement Wambugu said the Constituency Development Fund will spend Sh1 million every year for the project. He said the project is aimed at saving forests endangered by  the cutting down of trees by the locals.

The MP was speaking yesterday at Kiria-ini police station when he launched this year’s tree planting campaign. Wambugu said the CDF will buy more than 100,000 trees from community groups this year. Schools and other government institution are among the places where the trees will be planted.

He said  they intend to partner with the locals in the project.  He asked individuals farmers to authorise tree-planting on their farms. “The CDF has bought tree seedling from the local farmers including community groups since year 2009 and we want to encourage them to plant more trees to mitigate the adverse effects of climatic changes,” said the Mp.

He at the same time urged the locals to embrace sources of energy and energy saving Njikos to curb the massive cut down of trees for fuel. Wambugu added that tree planting will also earn money for the local noting that the CDF will be purchasing trees from them. He at the same time cautioned the residents against cutting the same trees for fuels noting that this will slow down the program.

On bursaries the legislature disclosed that cheques worth over sh 1 million has been issued to pay school fees for model students. While issuing the cheques at Kiria-ini market the Mp noted that the CDF kitty will help educate orphans and students from poor families. Last year Mathioya CDF gave out education bursaries amounting to sh 3 million while this year sh 12 millions have been disbursed.

He at the same time lamented that locals are delaying in applying for the funds which he said was giving the CDF committees a hard time tracing the students. Wambugu also noted that the constituency has also received sh 84 million from the government for the expansion of Kiria-ini market. He added that he has also sourced for funds for the installation on security light in major shopping centres in the constituency.