Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo has expressed excitement over achievements made in the Kaptagat Forest Ecosystem Conservation programme, which he has been spearheading for the last 10 years.
President William Ruto will be in the region next week for the 10th edition of the programme, and Kiptoo says the initiative has reclaimed much of the forest that had been degraded through human activities.
The Treasury PS says he grew up in the area and saw how the Kaptagat Forest was being degraded quickly, posing a threat to its existence as a key water tower in the region.
“Its now 10 years since I decided to take leadership and personal responsibility at my level to help conserve the Kaptagat Forest, and I am so proud of the work we have achieved with the support from the community and other stakeholders,” he says.
He made the remarks during the Kaptagat cycling challenge, which is one of the activities lined up to sensitise the community on the conservation programme.
Kiptoo said a lot of progress had been made to restore the forest and also to improve the livelihoods of many residents.
“The 10 years has not been a journey in futility, and I have a lot of fulfilment, but I know there is still much more we have to do,” he said.
The conservation is being integrated with sports and other components, and it will involve the local community.
The residents are being assisted to engage in rearing of modern dairy cows, use biogas and also growing high-value crops.
The Environment PS Festus Ng’eno said the same conservation plan had been replicated in 32 other sites across the country as part of plans to meet Ruto’s agenda to plant 15 billion trees.
A total of 1.7 billion trees have been planted across the country helping to improve the forest cover, among other economic benefits.
“What we have achieved is unprecedented, and as a result we are seeing more Kenyans growing trees, and the initiative is helping to create wealth and create jobs for Kenyans,” Mining PS Kimutai said.
The PS, who is leading a similar conservation programme in Mt Elgon Forest urged Kenyans to embrace and intensify conservation efforts in all parts of the country.
“The focus is to involve communities through improvement of livelihoods so that we remove pressure from the forests and make them engage in better economic activities,” Kimutai said.
