By Winnie Cherop
At least three thousand tree seedlings were on Friday, September 2, 2022 planted in Kipkaren forest on the outskirts of Eldoret town.
The exercise was a partnership between the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) and youths from Tree for Peace Group and Moi University School of Medicine.
Further locals within Kipkaren area were also involved in the tree planting excercise.
Speaking on the sidelines of the exercise, Joseph Kipsang the forester from ELDOWAS said the community benefits a lot economically, financially and socially from trees.
He said putting them in the front line of the tree planting activity is aimed at making it easy for them to ve involved in environment management.
“ELDOWAS sponsored the event with an aim of addressing deforestation and identifying water catchment areas within Uasin Gishu county. We included Kipkaren villagers in this activity because this is where they live and graze their cattle. We want to educate them on the importance of tree planting, and water conservations. That’s why we have collaborated with so many partners including Kipchoge foundation, UNGA limited and the Judiciary under the climate action change’,” said Kipsang.
The exercise engaged a number of youths from different foundations and those living within Kipkaren location.
“We were taken on board as youth in this activity because we are more aggressive into new projects, enlighted more about water conservation and environment and also we have manpower to volunteer,” said Kosgei Noah, Tree for Peace chairman.
‘Panda miti usipande chuki’
The Tree for PEACE group was formed to promote peace and cohesion in the country.
“Our motto is panda miti usipande chuki This slogan has helped us to plant many tress within the county and we can say there’s a great improvement in restoration of tress thus creating peaceful and calm environment,” Kosgei said.
Further, the groups are expecting to plant over five thousand trees within Kapseret constituency before 2023.
The tree planting event was planned by ELDOWAS since May 2022.
It brought on board partners from different associations.
The Eldoret Water and Sanitization Company Limited (ELDOWAS) is a corporate entity with Uasin Gishu County Government being its principles shareholder.
Its mission is providing adequate quality water, sanitization and innovation on climate action activities.
