Since inception we have been doing tree planting in the Cherangani Water Towers. We have collaborated with local CFA’s, WRUAS, ELDOWAS, KFS, Financial institutions and other partners to annual do tree planting specifically at Kaptagat Forest, Embobut Forest, Sogotio Forest, Moiben River, Sosiani River, Tangasir River. We have been the lead agency in the annual Chebara Dam Annual Conservation Run that takes place annual at Chebara Dam. We have a very strong partnership with Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company Limited (ELDOWAS) who are the main beneficiaries of the Chebara Dam, which supplies about 65% of the water consumed at Eldoret Town. We also collaborate with Moiben Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) and Tangasir WRUA in this annual event. We have been doing this annual conservation Run since 2015 safe for the three years of COVID-19 interruption (2019, 2020 and 2021).
In total we estimate that over the years in both ecosystems and learning institutions and private farms, we have planted about 300,000 tree seedlings of various varieties.
RIVER BANKS RESTORATION
River Banks restoration has been a key activity also in the tree planting campaign through the WRUA’s collaborations. There is a serious encroachment of riparian land along the major rivers and streams in the entire area of our jurisdiction. We started river bank restoration as part of our annual tree planting campaigns to ensure that as we restore the catchment areas the river banks are also restored to recharge the rivers.
We are doing advocacy in the two counties of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet to sensitize the communities living along the rivers on the need to observe the thirty-meter rule on river riparian land. We have reached out to the Agricultural departments of the two counties to ensure enforcement.
TREE PLANTING ALONG MAJOR HIGHWAYS IN THE NORTH RIFT REGION
In the year 2019 before COVID-19 hit Kenya we partnered with Kenya National Highways Authority to plant trees in three major roads in the North Rift. Through this initiative we agreed to Plant about 10,000 trees with agreed specifications on the tree varieties that do not endanger motorists, spacing and to involve the communities and schools along these highways.
Highways are always devoid of vegetation after they are graded and coming up with the idea to plant trees is not only for beatification, but also to increase tree cover in these huge tracks of bare road reserves and therefore increasing the percentage of area under tree cover.
