Pokot South – Simon Wamae, the County Director of Education in West Pokot, has inaugurated a significant tree-planting initiative at Kapsang’ar Mixed Secondary School, aiming to enhance environmental conservation across educational institutions in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event marked the beginning of a broader effort to support the government’s ambitious goal to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 to expand the nation’s forest cover. The launch involved the planting of 2,000 tree seedlings with the participation of local primary and secondary schools, including Chesta Teachers’ College. Wamae highlighted the collaborative spirit of the school communities and thanked Kapsang’ar School for setting up their own nursery, which will ensure a steady supply of seedlings for future planting efforts.
Mary Krop, the Pokot South Sub County Director of Education, echoed the importance of establishing more school-based nurseries to aid in reaching the national tree planting targets. She noted the strategic importance of these initiatives in fostering a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship among students.
Dennis Rotino, principal of Kapsang’ar Secondary School, expressed gratitude towards the alumni, particularly last year’s Form Four students, who established the initial tree nursery. Their efforts yielded the 2,000 seedlings that were planted during the event. Rotino outlined plans to expand the nursery to focus on indigenous species, which are key to enhancing the local ecosystem. He also detailed the practical benefits of the school’s tree-planting efforts, such as using timber from mature trees to construct school buildings, thereby reducing costs and promoting sustainable practices.
Additionally, Rotino highlighted the broader environmental and educational benefits of the greening initiative, noting that the trees not only beautify the school grounds and provide shaded areas conducive to learning but also contribute to attracting more rainfall, which is vital for the region’s agriculture.
Following the successful launch at Kapsang’ar, the County Director of Education visited Chepkalit Primary and Secondary Schools to assess damage from recent flooding. The inspection followed reports from Principal Chesta Jacob of ELCK Chepkalit Mixed Secondary School, who detailed significant infrastructure damage caused by heavy rains on May 9, 2024, including the destruction of over 200 water pipes essential for the school’s operations.