Government to pay youth stipends for safeguarding tree seedlings

GEOFFREY SATIA- KNA

The National Government, through the Ministry of Infor mation, Communications, and the Digital Economy, has promised to pay stipends to youths who will protect tree seedlings in the counties of Nandi and Kisii.  

Hezron Nyamberi, Senior Deputy Secretary in the Ministry, revealed that funds will be set aside to pay a select group of youth scouts who will be involved in weeding and offering protection in tree-growing areas.

Nyamberi, who made these remarks during a tree-planting exercise in Kubujoi Forest, Nandi South Sub-County, said that engaging youths in Kisii County to protect grown trees has been successful, and this initiative will soon be introduced in Nandi.

“We began engaging youths in Kisii in September to protect grown seed lings, and so far, no tree seedlings have been up rooted or destroyed, contrary to previous reports,” he said.

He added that the Ministry is working closely with the community to identify scouts who will provide protection at tree-growing sites. “They will assist with weeding and protect the grown trees,” Nyamberi explained.

Nyamberi also urged agencies, non-state ac tors, and various partners to collaborate with the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy in efforts to green degraded sites in Nandi County.

He noted that the Ministry’s target is to plant 10 million trees, with the State Department of Broadcasting and Tele communication aiming to plant 5 million, while the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy will plant 5 million trees in Kisii and Nandi counties.

“So far, we have planted 20,000 seedlings, as opposed to the target of 500,000 this year, due to unpredictable weather patterns in the region,” Nyamberi said.

“Today, in Kubujoi Forest, we were supposed to plant 10,000 seedlings, but due to weather vagaries, we have only planted 1,000,” he added.

Nandi County Forest Conservator Dennis Kerengo reiterated that they would provide the needed support in identifying the right individuals from the community to protect grown trees since already, the community of Nandi had been sensitized on planting and protecting trees.

Kerengo revealed that a total of 8.6 million trees had been grown in Nandi County since the beginning of the year against the year target of 17.4 mil lion trees.

“We are bulking trees in the nurseries so that by February, March and May next year, we will be able to surpass our target,” he said.

L: Hezron Nyamberi, Senior Deputy Secretary Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy, Nandi South Deputy County Commissioner Mokin Ptang'uny, Nandi County Forest Conservator Dennis Kerengo and Nandi County Warden Augustine Langat during tree planting exercise in Kubojoi Forest, Nandi South Sub-County.

He said the Kenya For est Service had mobilized One Acre Fund, Eastern Produce Kenya, various agencies CBOs and NGOs to provide sufficient trees seedlings to be planted by next year.

“We also encourage fruit tree seedlings for its high demand in areas outside gazetted forest. Our farmers have a high affinity for fruit trees,” he said.

According to him, gazetted forests in Nandi is 63,000 hectares which forms about 26 per cent of the land mass, this falling below the target area.

He said the bigger area which needed to be planted is within the private firms; tea estates and also government owned land such as institutions and schools.

“To meet the President’s directive to plant 15 billion trees in the next 10 years, we are ensuring every land unit has 30 per cent trees cover,” the County Forest Conservator said.

Kerengo noted that Nandi County is privileged to work together with the area Members of Parliament, local communities through Kenya Forest Association and Planting Protection of the Forests.

“My team and relevant partners will ensure trees grown areas are protected from weeds and animals or human destruction,” he noted.

Deputy County Commissioner Nandi South Mokin Ptang’uny said residents of Nandi are passionate about the Presidential directive on tree planting as a strategy to combat the life- threatening effects of global warming.