By Boniface Mulu
The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) has donated about 1300 tree seedlings that have been planted at the Kathukini secondary school in Masinga district, Machakos County.
The tree planting event was organized by KEFRI in partnership with Machakos University lecturer Dr Lawrence Matolo.
KEFRI Kitui Regional Research Centre official Bernard Kimani Kigwa, who represented centre director Dr. Albert M. Luvanda, was the chief guest at the event.
Mr Kigwa said that KEFRI had planted many trees in several institutions across the country and asked the institutions’ managements to appreciate the gesture by conserving the trees planted in the institutions.
‘A tree needs to be planted well for it to survive. The size of the hole and the spacing matter a lot when it comes to tree planting,” the KEFRI official said.
He added that KEFRI is mandated to conduct the dry land forestry research in all the dry areas in Kenya and that KEFRI Kitui Regional Research Centre covers more than 13 counties in Kenya including Marsabit, Wajir, Kitui, Machakos, Lamu, Kajiado, Garissa, Makueni, Tana River, Meru, Embu and Taita Taveta.
Kigwa talked about tree species and said that the Dalbergia melanoxylon is only in the dry areas, especially in the Ukambani region which has three counties namely Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.
“The Dalbergia melanoxylon is a very important tree specie yet it’s endangered species as a result of the woodcarvers in the country. Terminalia brownie is also,” he said.
Kigwa also talked about the Melia volkensii which he said is not eaten by termites and revealed that KEFRI is researching on the plant since there are speculations that the tree is medicinal.
He said there are lowland and highland bamboos and talked about the Osyris lanceolata (sandalwood) among others.
The official advised farmers to use pesticides in protecting the trees from destruction by termites. He also taught those present on indigenous ways of controlling termites.
Dr. Matolo urged those present to be ambassadors in tree conservation since what matters most is tree growing and not tree planting.
Kathukini Secondary School Principal, Mrs. Susan Mwoni thanked the school’s Board of Management (BOM) Chairman Joseph Kioko for coordinating the group. She added that they will continue growing the trees in the school for the good of the environment.
Mr. Kioko thanked the event’s organizers.
