Nov

Hope for Koguta as Givers Plant 10,000 Trees

#KenGenCSI, Environment Projects, Newsletter, Uncategorized

More than 30 Sondu Power Station staff Givers joined hands with the Kenya Forest Service to plant 10,000 indigenous tree seedlings at Koguta Forest, Nyakach Sub-county on 5th November as part of the on-going exercise of increasing the country’s forest cover.

Led by the Deputy Governor, Kisumu County Dr. Mathews Owili, the Givers were joined by their counterparts from the East Africa Breweries Limited, the Lake Basin Development Authority, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, Kenya Forest Service and KIWASCO.

“We are grateful for this exercise that aims to increase Kisumu County’s forest cover, and hope that tree planting activities will be an annual exercise at the beginning of the rainy seasons”, said Dr. Owili

“I urge the Koguta community to ensure the survival of the seedlings planted today”, he added.

During the event, the KenGen’s Western Region manager Eng. Alfred Abiero said that the company is focused in tree planting efforts especially at the Mau catchment area as hydro power stations rely on water to generate electricity.

Present during the tree planting exercise were KIWASCO Managing Director Thomas Odongo, LBDA Managing Director Raymond Omollo and EABL Group Corporate Relations Director Eric Kiniti, and the KenGen Foundation’s Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha.

“Today’s tree planting exercise reflects one of the Foundation’s key pillars of environmental conservation”, said Anthony.

“The exercise also represents the power of partnerships in Corporate Social Investment activities and links directly with the global Sustainable Development Goal 17”, he added.

A recent survey puts Kisumu County’s forest cover at approximately 0.45 percent. The 446 hectares Koguta forest is one of two forests that are under threat due to encroachment and wanton deforestation due to illegal charcoal burning and livestock grazing.

KenGen PLC donated 10,000 tree seedlings and pledged to add another 20,000, while LBDA promised to supply 20,000 and EABL 50,000. The target is to plant 100,000 trees within a period of one year.

Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha thanked the Givers for showing up for the exercised and assured them of continued engagement in other projects touching on the Foundation’s three pillars of Environment, Education, Water and Sanitation.