Lobby launches 'adopt a tree' project to boost forest cover

Schoolchildren in Machakos and Makueni counties have been engaged in a tree-planting programme to conserve the environment.

The ‘a child adopt a tree’ programme started in Mitaboni in Machakos before being adopted in Miau, Makueni.

Children from various schools plant 100 seedlings each in their school compounds.

Each child is tasked with the responsibility of nurturing his/her tree.

Miau assistant chief Benjamin Munyoki said Lower Eastern is among the regions worst-hit by drought and the tree-planting programme will play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change.

"This area has a population of more than 1,000 residents who rely on two dams which are now facing the danger of drying up due to lack of rainfall for almost a year,” he said.

Munyoki spoke during Athi River Rotary Club literacy event at his office compound in Miau, Mbooni East subcounty, on Monday.

“Residents fetch water over 10 kilometres away and it’s very far. This is the reason we are pleading with residents to plant trees to conserve the environment and attract rainfall,” the administrator said.

Through the support of Rotary Club, three schools were each given 100 seedlings to plant in their institutions.

Club’s president Gilbert Ang'ana said they had donated 2,000 seedlings to the community for planting in schools, health facilities and government offices, among other public places.

“Today we are in Miau. We have come to engage with the community on various projects,” he said.

“We intend to plant more than 2,000 trees in this area. We hope that the community will ensure that these trees grow so that in the near future, we can have sustainable rains in this region."

Ang’ana said apart from planting trees to improve livelihoods, they have plans to ensure no child is left behind in getting an education.

He said they will be launching an ICT Centre targeting 2,000 Form 4 leavers in rural areas.

The project will commence on November 1. Each beneficiary will be trained on ICT skills for three months in the Eastern region.

“ICT is a critical component of our country’s development and we want to support our youth in many of these underprivileged communities to understand basics in technology,” he said.

Fifteen members of the club, in partnership with AFRIpads and Novatis, donated reusable pads to 300 girls.

They said they would extend the initiative to other counties facing drought and starvation. The girls will use the pads for one year.

They also donated 500 story, text and exercise books to children in schools.

Ang’ana said they will work with other actors to construct a public dispensary and drill a borehole in Miau sublocation.

Resident Bernice Musau said they have been trekking more than 10km in search of water, which they transport using donkeys.

“We collect water from Mukeo dam. Those who don’t have donkeys have to borrow the animals from their neighbours to transport the commodity or go without water,” Musau said.

Musau said they usually queue for hours at the dam to fetch water.

“We need more dams or boreholes,” she said.

She said most residents can also not afford more than one meal a day due to drought. Musau appealed to the government to send relief food to the area.

Edited by A.N