In a bid to avert tragedies brought about by flash floods, mudslides and landslides in disaster prone areas in West Pokot County, the Government has embarked on massive and aggressive tree planting and environment conservation program in the region during this rain season.
The Government targets to plant more than four thousand tree seedlings in schools within Kipkomo Sub County to tackle the effects of climate change.
The tree seedlings were donated by Youth group which has a nursery.
Last week, one person died due to mudslides and flash floods in Muino, Pokot Central Sub County and one feared dead in Ortum, Kipkomo sub County, residents displaced and properties destroyed. Three schools of Holy Rosary, Ortum, Chemutlokotyo and Tamkal school’s buildings were destroyed.
In 2020 more than 50 people lost their lives, property destroyed and more than 1500 people displaced in the Chesegon area after flash floods and landslides occurred in the area.
In 2019, 39 people died, massive destruction and thousands displaced in three villages of Muino, Nyarkulian and Parua following landslides that occurred in the area.
Kipkomo sub County Deputy County Commissioner Teresia Muguro noted that the program also on advocacy was being implemented as a permanent solution to disasters in the degraded mountainous areas to prevent future landslides and play a major role in risk reduction.
Speaking on Tuesday at St Cecilia, Chepaeria Girls secondary school during the launch of the tree planting program, Ms Muguro noted that the program will involve planting 50 trees in secondary and 20 in primary schools next week in the sub County.
“The climate has been changing and has destroyed many things. The weather patterns have been challenging because the environment has been destroyed,” said Ms Muguro.
She noted that residents have been farming in highlands and the land left bare.
“We need to conserve the environment and cover crops. We are planting trees and we shall take care of them. Landslides happen because when it rains the water has nothing to hold it, it runs down the hills and mountains and the escarpment,” she said.
She noted that they are supporting the government of Kenya’s target of 10 percent forest cover.
“This is an ambitious plan which we are committed to undertake at whatever cost if we are to avoid further calamities from landslides. We must put measures in place to avert the calamities which are claiming many people in the area,” she said.
She noted that the program will rejuvenate trees on slopes and mountain tops to reduce erosion and soil degradation to help in holding soil and rocks.
“By offering and planting tree seedlings in areas that have been affected by landslides and those that are prone to making sure that a long solution is offered to those living in high and bare grounds,” she explained.
She said the Government is helping and sensitizing farmers on tree planting in landslide prone areas hence plant trees.
“The trees will also help during drought,” she said.
She asked residents to participate in tree planting programs in rural and urban areas to combat the adverse effects of climate change leading to landslides and floods.
“Trees will help the degraded mountainous areas to prevent future landslides and play a major role in risk reduction. When you cut a tree plant two. We want every learner to plant a tree. We ask charcoal burners to stop,” she said.
Ms Muguro said that most of the communities had suffered landslides, displacements and loss of lives as a result of poor land management.
“We need to protect water catchment areas to avoid these,” she said.
Kipkomo Sub County education Director Evans Onyanja urged principals to plant more trees as possible.
He noted with concern the risk of environmental degradation if citizens do not make it a habit to plant trees in their homes and institutions to curb global warming.
He also urged residents to care for tree seedlings so that the goal of the tree planting exercise is realized.
“The initiative is to encourage locals’ plant more trees to increase the vegetation in the area. For every one tree cut plant to increase the forest cover to help control soil erosion that has destroyed land in the area,” he said.
He urged members of the public to embrace a tree planting culture in order to stamp out deforestation.
According to President William Ruto’s directive, Kenyans are supposed to plant 10 billion trees.
St. Cecilia, Chepareria Girls Secondary school Principal Jack line Lopurosia said that they are ready to plant more trees in the school.
By Kipilat Kapusia
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