Principal Secretary Dr. Bonface Makokha leads SDEP Team in a Tree Growing drive in Bungoma County

Economic Planning PS. Dr. Bonface Makokha led the SDEP Team in a Tree Growing drive in Bungoma County today.

The exercise was organized by KIPPRA, County Government of Bungoma and the Kenya Forest Service.

On arrival in Bungoma, the Principal Secretary was received by the Ag.Economic Planning Secretary Timothy Gakuu, Ag. Executive Director KIPPRA – Dr. Eldah Onsomu, Chair of KIPPRA Board Prof. Paul Wachana, and Bungoma County Deputy Governor, H. E.Pastor Jennifer Mbatiany on behalf of the Bungoma County Governor, H.E Hon. Ken Lusaka.

Over 2000 seedlings donated by KIPPRA were planted in Panantega Forest Station, Chepyuk Division, Kopsiro sub-County.

SDEP is committed to empowering communities and individuals to build sustainable forests through tree growing and conservation practices.

This will create communal adaptation capabilities to protect trees and plants from the impacts of global warming and other greenhouse emissions.

“The national government is also alive to the fact that climate change is a threat to Socio-Economic Development. The significance of tree planting thus, cannot be overstated. Forests are essential to survival: they absorb carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, and regulate the climate.” PS. Dr. Bonface Makokha stated.

The KIPPRA initiative of collaboration and partnerships with the counties and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in greening forests and capacity utilization of local leaders will enable build a strong foundation for sustainable habitation. This will enhance resilience and reduce the activities that cause increased forest destruction and environmental damage.

Activities such as charcoal burning, logging, felling trees and illegal encroachments will be controlled by the people themselves using the knowledge that they have acquired from the capacity building.

The Bungoma County event was two fold. The PS. Dr. Bonface Makokha had an added duty as a Chief Guest to issue KIPPRA Certificates to over 60 County trained officers on ‘Public Policy Making Process’; and ‘Governance Structures in Devolved System of Government’.

This is in line with the Government Policy of championing Human Capital Development in the Public Service Sector.

Other dignitaries who attended the function included, County Secretary, Deputy County Commissioner, County Executive Officers, community leaders and staff from National and County Governments among others.