Dedan Kimathi Foundation and Kenya Defense Forces Mazingira Day 2024 Mega Tree Planting

Environment, simply defined as what surrounds us, is a crucial aspect of our lives. Unproductive lands, stinking business premises, polluted air, dirty water bodies among others contribute to economic drawbacks and health risks to human beings and animals.

Mazingira Day 2024 celebrated on 10th October 2024, provided a golden opportunity for Kenyans to engage in environmental activities; creating awareness on environmental concerns while lending a hand in environmental action.

In the spirit of this important national public holiday, Dedan Kimathi Foundation organized a series of tree planting activities in South Kinangop in line with presidential 15 billion National Tree Growing and Forest Restoration Campaign targeting to achieve 30% tree cover by 2032.

In partnership with Kenya Army Corps of Transport (KACT), CKL Africa Ltd, Kenya Forest Service, National Government Administration Officers, Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and the dam adjacent community, the foundation led in the speedy planting of 35,000 Indigenous tree seedlings at Sasumua Dam riparian in Njabini; South Kinangop – Nyandarua County. KDF officers took advantage of the exercise to educate the members of public and Njabini Girls students on the impending effects of climate change. Lt. Col Cherugut persuaded the locals to treat forests as resource to benefit the community and utilize them in a sustainable manner. Emphasizing on food security, he called for sustainable tree growing to increase rain formation and agricultural production.

Echoing the Lt’s sentiments, Sasumua dam coordinator, Dr. Muchai, stated the importance of the dam to the community. Serving the Nairobi residents with 12% of the water they consume daily, he treated protection of the dam as a combined-effort priority hence committing to support it fully. He thanked the foundation for the undying spirit to keep the riparian forested despite the challenges.

To counter the triple planetary crises of Climate Change, Biodiversity loss and Pollution, DKF CEO, Ms. Evelyn Kimathi expounded on the paramount role the forests (trees) play in reducing carbon emissions. She called upon the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company to protect the trees planted with the help of the community.

Simultaneously, section of Dedan Kimathi Foundation Environment Conservation team conducted more planting exercises in Ndothua Comprehensive school, Ndothua Secondary, Njabini Boys high school, Sasumua Secondary and Kinangop Technical and Vocational College. The team leader, Dickson Maina, explained the importance of the day and persuaded the participants to offer good aftercare to the trees planted. The team also offered the learners some of the tree seedlings to grow in their homes.