DKF EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH KDF THIKA ENGINEERS BRIGADE

To actualize the special presidential forest restoration program, the Kenya Defence Forces have been directed to grow 450 million trees countrywide before the year 2032. Each department in the forces has been assigned a tree seedlings production target with Thika Garrison being expected to raise 3 million tree seedlings before the April rains.

Dedan Kimathi Foundation has extended a partnership with the Engineers Brigade to support them in escalating their tree seedlings production. This is in terms of provision of polythene potting tubes, technical support and tree nurseries labour.

To strengthen the partnership, today, Wednesday 10th January 2024, Dedan Kimathi Foundation delivered 200,000 potting bags to the Garrison as a fraction of the 3 million bags required to reach the garrison’s target.

“We have been reusing milk packets in our tree seedlings production due to lack of the required polytubes. This has been a challenge as most of them retain too much moisture as they are not perforated leading to wearing off before the seedlings maturity while others get destroyed by termites. We access them at a cost and receiving the Dedan Kimathi Foundation donation is a major boost to our tree seedlings production, “stated the Garrison Environment Officer, Lt. Mwangi.

Lack of potting bags had been highlighted as the main challenge slowing down tree seedlings production in the Garrison’s Drilling, Construction and Combat battalions as reported to the CDF on the National Tree Planting public holiday observed on November 13th last year. While receiving the donation, the Deputy Combat Brigade Commander Col. Victor Mburu stated that the potting bags were right in time to enable them produce enough seedlings for the April planting season. He further stated that the 200,000 bags would be shared among the 12 Construction, 14 Drilling and 18 Combat battalions.

Dedan Kimathi Foundation will be working closely with the Garrison to avail forest soil and foundation environment conservation team to assist with extra labor.