Dedan Kimathi Foundation and Partners Tree Growing in Trans Nzoia County

‘Adopt a Tree’ – Kitale Edition

The Importance of Trees and Forests

Trees and forests are crucial in creating and maintaining stable ecosystems that highly support life. Besides trees ability to clean the air, increase the aesthetic value of the environment, produce food, provide medicine, conserve water sources, preserve biodiversity among other invaluable benefits, they play a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects of climate change. The impacts of the same have been life-threatening hence demand immediate action to reverse them.

Dedan Kimathi Foundation’s Environmental Commitment

Inspired to appreciate the role of forests in shielding the guerilla fighters during the colonial freedom struggle, Dedan Kimathi Foundation has continued to traverse the country calling for increased environmental action while conducting numerous tree growing activities. Following the footsteps of the nobel peace prize laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai, the Foundation settles for sustainable tree growing activities as an easy, cheaper and a sure way of reducing green house gases from the atmosphere hence reducing climate change effects.

Tree Growing Launch in Kitale

Dedan Kimathi Foundation has maintained national greening commitment with all-year long activities. Today, Friday 28th March 2025, the foundation environment team held the long rains tree growing activities launch in Kitale at Marura Comprehensive school in Chebarus. In the event, conducted in partnership with Boychild Love Foundation and Freedom-fighters attributed Public Benefit Organization, participants planted 500 tree seedlings donated by Kenya Forest Service. Species planted were Olea africana, Markhamia lutea, Podocarpus falcatus, cypress and Grivellia robusta which are all suitable with the region’s climate. This was the launch of a mass tree growing series of activities in public learning institutions to be conducted this season as the rain is anticipated to start soon.

Call to Action for Learners and Educators

Speaking during the event, the foundation environment team leader, Dickson Maina, urged the partcipants especially learners to be at the forefront in supporting tree growing both at school and their homes. He further urged teachers to help the learners to adopt a number of trees each for proper growing. His words were echoed by Arch Bishop Mwai who pleaded with the Marura school community to embrace the president’s trees and forests restoration campaign to attain 30% tree cover stating the benefits would befall the citizens.

Building Strong Partnerships for Environmental Conservation

For good results, the foundation continues to utilize partnerships with PBO’s, private firms and goverment agencies to create a notable mark in the 15 billion target by 2032 believing in the power of a united front against the climate change menace.

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