Mercy Cheptoo, a teacher at Tampalal Comprehensive School in West Pokot County, has launched a tree-planting campaign aimed at restoring rainfall to the North Rift Region, which has gone for many days and months without rain, alongside several other parts of the country.
The region currently relies on four forests to attract rainfall: Kamatira, Lelan, Mount Mtelo and Kapkanyar forests. However, human activities, chiefly the cutting down of trees with minimal replacement, coupled with the effects of global climate change, have weakened the ability of these forests to draw rain, a situation that has left communities in the North Rift grappling with prolonged dry spells.
It is against this backdrop that Mercy Cheptoo, who teaches Agriculture and Nutrition at Tampalal Comprehensive School, moved to source about one hundred tree seedlings for planting within the school. Her students prepared a piece of land for the exercise, and the first phase of planting was carried out on 8th June 2026.
“My message is clear, I want to make a forest in my school so that it can be part of the forests that attract rain in the North Rift Region.” Said Mercy Cheptoo.
The teacher is optimistic that if every school in the region takes up tree planting, the North Rift will look green within five years, and the effect of forests in attracting rainfall will be felt once more.
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Linus Ruto, one of the learners who took part in the exercise, said he was proud to be involved, noting that trees play a significant role in addressing climate change.
“Trees conserve soil erosion, beautify the environment, act as sources of water, provide fruits and a home for bees, apart from the many benefits human beings and animals receive from them.” Said Linus Ruto, one of the learner participants.
Ruto added that since the weather remains dry, learners will be irrigating the tree seedlings daily to ensure they do not dry up before taking root.
“l also urge learners from other schools in the county to participate in tree planting exercises during rainy seasons for the betterment of our future”, added Linus Ruto.
Cheptoo said more tree seedlings will be planted at the school once the rains return, and called on other institutions and members of the public to embrace tree planting for the sake of both present and future generations.
“Let us all participate in the tree planting exercise to change our environment and to get the desired benefits now and for the future generations”, concluded Mercy Cheptoo.
By Martin Ruto
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