today as residents joined other Kenyans in marking the second edition of National Ree Growing Day and remembering those who have died as a result of floods.
Led by the PS Techn.Vocational Edu and Training (TVET) Dr. Esther Muoria, area residents, students and teachers from mainly TVET institutions came out in large numbers to plant tree seedlings during the event launched at Migori Teachers Training College (TTC.)
PS Muoria, addressing participants soon after planting several tree seedlings at Migori TTC grounds, asked Kenyans especially those from the Lake regions to move out of riparian lands and leave them for massive tree growing.
She underscored the need for all Kenyans to champion the development of the country by protecting the environment through planting more trees, saying it was the only sure way to make the population safe.
“It’s our responsibility to make this country a better place to live,” she affirmed and regretted the deaths of all Kenyans who have so far perished as a result of floods caused by the surging climate change.
Dr. Muoria revealed that her ministry had been slapped with a 50 m tree-growing target to help meet the 15 billion tree-growth target that the National government has set to achieve in a span of time.
She said it is only through a concerted effort by all institutions under her ministry to plant trees that the challenges of climate change would be mitigated.
Dr. Muoria urged the young people in the country to join fully the activities of increasing forest cover in their respective areas and be ambassadors of afforestation campaigns.
PS also underscored the need for young people to embrace technical skills. She explained that Opportunities are available for those who are qualified to land good jobs in Kenya and outside the country.
The department had started a programme to see young people taken to work outside the country, she announced.
County Commissioner David Gitonga announced that Migori County’s lone has a target of 4.5m tree growth but regretted that the region has so far only managed to plant 1.5m trees.
He said the region boasts a tree seedling Survival rate of 95 per cent due to the good climate and people should take advantage to increase the number of trees in their lands.
He said security agencies in the region would ensure that the riparian areas around Lake Victoria and existing rivers are left free of human activities other than forest cover.
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