STORY BY KENYA NEWS AGENCY
Nyamira County Commissioner, Erastus Mbui led students, government officers and residents of Borabu Subcounty to plant 4000 trees to mark Mazingira day.
In the event, the CC said Mazingira Day is the President's directive towards mitigating the effects of climate change in the country and towards achieving the planting of 15 billion trees by 2030.
Mbui said human activities have greatly disrupted previously predictable rainfall patterns, and farmers could do their farming with ease because the weather seasons were not disrupted.
“That has greatly threatened our food security and damaged property due to persistent flooding, our environment is greatly endangered by improper waste disposal management. Right from our homes we badly dispose of liquid and solid waste which inhibit the natural regulation and management of fresh air, soil fertility, and environment conservation,” he said.
"Diminished land in this region compounded with population upsurge especially in our town centres, cutting down of trees to construct houses, and jostling for tilling land which is already mineral deficient has threatened the beautiful therapeutic ambience experienced in our county in the recent past."
He appealed to students and youths to initiate a culture of planting and nurturing trees in their homes, and schools to reclaim the threatened eroded environment for a better future.
Environment, Water Mining and Natural Resources executive, John Matiang'i said the County Government of Nyamira has invested heavily in tree planting especially in public institutions and spaces to reclaim the environment.
"Our people are fond of planting eucalyptus trees along riparian areas and water catchment areas which has endangered our water sources and has dried up our water springs and water so scarce and no longer easily accessible, “ Matiang’i said.
"Our county passed a law to cut eucalyptus trees planted on river banks and soon we shall implement that law and replenish alternative water-conserving trees to affected people to maintain a cool environment in our county.”
Matiang'i reiterated that global effects of climate change will prevail even though the contribution of poisonous emissions destroying the ozone layer is very minimal.
He said the efforts of cleaning it will have to involve everyone including those who never played a part in destroying it.
"Therefore make efforts to plant Indigenous trees, fruit trees and other water and environment conserving trees. They will make our food secure, boost our nutrition supplement, clean the environment and be economically stable,” the CEC said.
Mazingira Day in Nyamira was crowned with a Mazingira cup between St Kizito Nyansongo Boys teachers and a community football club in Borabu Subcounty.