Mount Kenya University Foundation participated in the 7th Annual Kaptagat Forest Tree Planting event held on Saturday, July 1. The event at Kessos Block of Kaptagat Forest, Elgeyo Marakwet Forest, was graced by President William Ruto.
Mount Kenya University Foundation was represented by John W. Koigi and Mount Kenya University Students Association chairman Ahmed Ibrahim.
The Foundation is the charitable arm of Mount Kenya University. It has launched an initiative to ensure university students and the youth at large take an active role in fighting deforestation, and participate in activities that mitigate against climate change.
To this end, the Foundation is training a group of volunteer students known as ‘Nature’s Custodians’ on afforestation best practices. In turn, these Custodians will train and rope in their peers in tree-planting exercises.
This will not only improve Kenya’s forest cover but will also support the government’s plan to plant 15 billion trees by the year 2023.
“During the COP 26 climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland, world leaders resolved to end deforestation by year 2030,” observed Mr. Koigi. “Unfortunately, new data shows the world lost 10.2 million acres of tropical forests in 2022, a 10 percent increase from the previous year. As Mount Kenya University Foundation, we’ve realized that part of the reason is because there’s lukewarm involvement of young people in afforestation efforts. This is why we’ve launched this initiative targeting university students.”
MKU has a vibrant Environment club. Under the stewardship of the Foundation, the club and Nature’s Custodians will step-up tree planting, starting at the institution’s expansive land at Happy Valley Grounds-Thika, and replicating the efforts throughout the country.
“The youth constitute the largest segment of the population. Those aged between 18 and 35 years make up 75% of the population. That is why every successful tree-planting efforts should target the youth,” said Mr. Ibrahim.
Besides planting the 15 billion trees envisioned by the government, there are also plans to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded forests and rangelands.
“I appeal to every Kenyan to plant at least 30 trees each year,” said President Ruto during the Kaptagat ceremony. “In our country and region, droughts have increased in frequency, intensity and duration.”
Besides MKU Foundation, other participants in the event were NETFUND, Kenya Forest Service, WWF, UNDP and Community Forests Associations.
