Keringet: Keringet Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Chebet Katam has urged the local chiefs not to relent in the effort of planting trees to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Speaking during a tree planting exercise held on Thursday at Bararget forest in Kuresoi South to mark World Environment Day, Katam emphasized the need for the chiefs to use their various public engagement forums and push for this agenda that is in line with the government tree restoration programme targeting the planting of 15 billion trees by 2032.
According to Kenya News Agency, Katam highlighted the importance of involving locals in the initiative through community meetings, farmers training sessions, school outreach programmes, and any other public engagements to ensure full participation in the environmental conservation effort. She praised the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) for spearheading the tree planting exercise since the onset of the Chief's Climate Action Day, noting the growing acceptance of the initiative by the local communities.
Katam advised against waiting for specific days to plant trees, urging everyone to take up the responsibility of growing and nurturing trees at any given time to surpass the set target. She also encouraged those familiar with the initiatives to spread awareness among others, integrating climate change messages as a constant reminder to achieve the environmental goals.
The Chief's Climate Day initiative, which began last year, was a government directive for all chiefs to mobilize their communities and other stakeholders in the environmental sector to plant at least 250 trees on the first Friday of every month, aiming to cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility.