- •Those who graduated from the forest law enforcement academy include 10 management trainees and 50 forester trainees after six week’s rigorous training.
- •Out of the 60 graduands 21 were women while 39 were men.
Forest protection and management in the country got a boost on Friday after 60 officers graduated from Kenya Forestry College.
Those who graduated from the forest law enforcement academy include 10 management trainees and 50 forester trainees after six week’s rigorous training.
The graduands include 21 women and 39 men.
None of the trainees was disqualified because of health issues or indiscipline.
Kenya Forest Service Board chairman Peter Kinyua, KFS Chief Conservator Julius Kamau and Members of KFS board members attended the ceremony at Londiani.
Kinyua said the concerted effort that has been made by the board has over three years seen the forest cover and tree cover improve.
“We have a target to grow 5 billion trees in the next five years. To achieve this, the public should plant 300 trees per person,” Kinyua said.
He said KFS will give technical support to all in order to ensure the bid is successful.
The board chairman said plans are underway to increase the number of employees at the service.
Kinyua urged the academy to ensure it has put in place the necessary arrangements to accommodate more trainees.
The chairman said the drought affecting 4.35 million Kenyans has wreaked havoc by destroying livelihoods.
Kinyua said efforts to restore some of the water towers such as Mau have helped to mitigate water shortages and that water in rivers such as Mara that support wildlife was still flowing.
The chairperson noted that the only way to combat the adverse effects of climate change was to grow trees.
Kamau said the graduands are the first cohort of management and forester trainees that the KFS board approved through a replacement approach of exiting staff as a result of retirement.
“We anticipate sustaining the same approach and tempo and we are optimistic that the next cohort will soon be joining the service which is 166 former graduates of this college for the position of forester trainee (Diploma level) and head nurseries (Certificate level) and whom will as well undertake a basic paramilitary course,” Kamau said.
Kamau lauded President William Ruto’s directive for the service to recruit 2,700 forest rangers and 600 forest officers.
Ruto made the directive on October 20 at Uhuru Gardens during the Mashujaa Day celebration.
Kamau said the recruitment exercise will be a big boost towards forest protection and conservation as well as in increasing the tree cover from the current 12.13 per cent to 30 per cent by 2030.
The graduands underwent rigorous training testing their tenacity, bravery, the endurance of body, mind and soul and spirit.
During the pass-out parade, the trainees' showcased the skills and tactics they have been trained on.
They were also trained in general law, the constitution, work ethics, communication skills, public relations, disaster management, arms skills, and staff management, among others.
Kamau urged the officers to work diligently and be willing to sacrifice in putting the service above themselves and to commit to upholding with fidelity the golden reputation of KFS.