• IPA Section Kenya has been conducting similar events since 2018. It has planted more than two million seedlings.
• Other partners include De La Calexo Africa, Pembe, Kenya Scouts and the Kenya Institute of Foreign Languages.
Image: FILE
The International Police Association Kenya Section and the National Gun Owners Association of Kenya have launched a nationwide tree-planting project.
The event was conducted at the NGAO Shooting Range in Kirigiti, Kiambu county.
The drive spearheaded by the International Police Association Kenya, is an international event dubbed “Plant a tree-green IPA” and is being conducted in 71 countries worldwide.
April 22 is Earth Day and in celebration of this day, the Sociocultural Commission Green IPA Project organised the global event to promote the project in local communities and schools.
The IPA Section aims to plant 500,000 tree seedlings in all police establishments and neighbouring public institutions. The drive will be conducted in all regions countrywide.
The aim is to have all IPA members around the world plant at least one tree in their regions.
Former Lungalunga MP Khatib Mwashetani said the IPA Green Project is aligned with the government’s greening agenda.
He said the project is the only way to sustainable resource utilisation and environmental conservation.
The IPA Kenya Section was led by president Alfred Osur and secretary general Jared Ojuok. The NGAO team was led by chairman Martin Chengo and secretary general Ahmed Shamsuddin.
Osur said IPA Kenya Section has taken the initiative in leading the world in the project and shall be repeated across the country.
The NGAO chairman said, “Tree planting is associated with astounding benefits in our communities, other than being an avenue of environmental conservation, its social benefits cannot be discounted because they are monumental.”
IPA Section Kenya has been conducting similar events since 2018. It has planted more than two million seedlings.
Other partners include De La Calexo Africa, Pembe, Kenya Scouts and the Kenya Institute of Foreign Languages.
“As police officers, we want people to understand there is a very direct link between the way we manage our forest resources and peace,” Ojuok said.
He said the respective commands will receive the seedlings and plant them in their compounds, thereby supporting the sustainability of the project.
Ojuok said the project will help communities create a friendly and healthy environment, reduce carbon gases, regulate rainy seasons and boost agricultural produce.
The main idea is to have maximum public participation in the spirit of police-public partnership, thereby creating strong linkages essential for community policing.