Oyugis, Kenya – Magistrate Samson Ongeri of Oyugis Court has issued a call to action for Homa Bay county leaders to take a proactive role in planting trees to increase the county’s tree cover. Speaking during a community service event, Ongeri stressed the urgency of tackling environmental degradation by involving leaders from all sectors, including politics, the judiciary, and parliament, in tree planting initiatives.

According to a new release by Kenya News Agency, the magistrate spoke at a tree planting event at Oyugis Primary School organized by the Probation Department. The event saw participation from government officials, teachers, pupils, and offenders, who together planted approximately 700 seedlings. Ongeri noted that addressing current climate conditions requires an immediate and collaborative effort to plant trees and take care of existing forests.

Tobias Mboya, Kasipul Sub County Environment Officer, stated that Homa Bay County currently has only a 2% tree cover, far below the target of 10%. Emphasizing that no single entity can accomplish this goal alone, Mboya expressed gratitude to Plant Trees for Better Environment CBO, led by its patron Nuhu Omollo Masoud, for their support in organizing the event. Masoud also stressed the importance of not just planting but also nurturing and growing trees.

Lillian Anyange, Regional Director Probation, reiterated that community service orders are both a program and a sentence as per law Cap 93. She called on the public to accept the work done by offenders in community service activities such as tree planting and road maintenance.

In addition to planting, the event aimed to create awareness among young people about the importance of environmental conservation. The goal is to transform barren hills into rain catchment areas, making the region more productive. Officials emphasized that achieving more than the current 2% tree cover would require concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including the public.