Elgeyo marakwet: The state department for technical training will this week plant one million trees countrywide as part of its efforts to meet the target of 5 million trees allocated to the department.

According to Kenya News Agency, a director with the department, Anne Kamonjo, stated that the department was partnering with TVET institutions to contribute to the planting of 15 billion trees by 2030. Speaking at Kessup forest in Elgeyo Marakwet county, where she led over 10 institutions from both Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties in planting trees, Kamonjo emphasized their strategy to adopt degraded areas, whether in forests or wetlands, to plant trees.

'By doing this, it becomes easier to ensure that we don't just plant trees but ensure we monitor them until they grow,' she said. Kamonjo added that involving the youth aimed to impart them with practical skills to conserve the environment and nurture trees to maturity in their communities.

Joseph Bittok, the principal of Kipsoen National Technical Training Institute, mentioned that this was the third edition of tree planting undertaken by the institution, having planted 52,000 cypress trees. He expressed satisfaction that this time, the initiative included 6 TVETs from neighboring Uasin Gishu and 4 from the county, along with students from Moi University and the University of Eldoret.

Bittok highlighted the benefits of adopting a block at Kessup forest, ensuring that planted trees are nurtured for growth. He noted that in their first edition, 80% of the trees planted survived. 'We have been ensuring that we monitor our trees and that is why we went back and ensured that the 20% trees that didn't survive were replanted,' he said.

He praised the Kenya Forest Service for allowing them to adopt a forest and providing seedlings, acknowledging the collaboration's success in tree planting efforts.