Narok, Kenya – In a significant environmental initiative, Narok County celebrated the National Tree Planting Holiday by planting around 150,000 tree seedlings across various locations. The county’s efforts align with the national goal of increasing forest cover.
According to Kenya News Agency, the primary event was held at the Enosupukia Forest in Narok East Sub County, where 46,000 seedlings were planted. The remaining seedlings were distributed and planted in the other seven sub-counties of the region. Governor Ntutu announced an ambitious target for the county to plant over 4.3 million tree seedlings in the next three months, capitalizing on the ongoing El Nino rains.
The governor urged Narok residents to actively participate in the tree planting efforts by planting at least 300 seedlings each on their farms. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to achieve a 15 billion tree cover by 2032. Governor Ntutu, who has personally planted over 500 tree seedlings, emphasized the importance of community involvement in increasing forest cover and conserving the environment.
In a related development, the staff and inmates of Narok GK prison participated in tree planting activities within the prison premises. Governor Ntutu also committed to fencing the Enosupukia forest to protect the newly planted seedlings and promote their growth. Additionally, the county government plans to fence all primary schools in Narok to ensure the survival of seedlings planted in these areas.
Principal Secretary for Investment and Trade, Abubakar Hassan, representing the Cabinet Secretary for Investment and Trade, encouraged residents to plant trees in large numbers. He emphasized the critical role of trees in sustaining livelihoods and conserving the environment.
Professor Peninah Aloo, Vice-Chancellor of Maasai Mara University, expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for dedicating the day to tree planting. As an ecologist, she highlighted the ecological significance of the initiative. The university has pledged to collaborate with the county government in planting tree seedlings in 100 primary schools across the county.
The event saw participation from notable figures including Narok East MP Ken Kiloku, Narok County MP Rebecca Tonkei, County Assembly Speaker Davis Dikirr, and Deputy Governor Tamalinye Koech. Various organizations, such as the Kenya Revenue Authority, Equity Bank, Kenya Forest Service, and Ewaso Nyiro South Development Agency (ENSDA), contributed to the effort by donating seedlings.