UASIN GISHU, Kenya – President William Ruto’s ambitious campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 has received a significant boost after Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and the University of Eldoret (UoE) joined together to contribute to the government’s goal.
The move is meant to ensure environmental sustainability in a nation increasingly feeling the heat of climate change.
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and severe droughts are no longer abstract threats but present-day realities affecting millions of lives.
However, to mitigate the climate crisis, a KNH Climate Change Committee unit delegation visited the university in Uasin Gishu County to discuss the collaborative tree-planting initiative.
The meeting, chaired by Dr. Christopher Saina, the Coordinator for the Centre of Excellence in Climate Change and Green Economy at the University, aimed to solidify the partnership between the two institutions.
What KNH and UOE plan to do to mitigate the climate crisis
KNH has already been allocated a significant 50,000-hectare plot of land around the Msekekwa forest in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and aims to plant a target of 180,000 trees by April 2025.
“To achieve this ambitious goal, KNH will leverage the expertise and resources of UoE,” said Diana Chebet (Acting Deputy Risk of Quality Assurance Manager-KNH)
The university, on the other hand, has committed to providing labour during the tree-planting exercise.
“This demonstrates our dedication to environmental conservation and sustainable development,” said Dr. Saina.
By working together, KNH and UoE are taking significant steps to address climate change and create a greener future for Kenya.
The president’s initiative, complemented by the declaration of numerous tree-planting holidays across the country, is designed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
What’s Kenya’s current state of the climate crisis
Kenya’s carbon emissions, while lower than those of industrialised nations, have been steadily increasing.
The country currently emits approximately 95 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.
The primary sources of these emissions come from various sectors.
One of them is agriculture, as livestock farming is a significant contributor, releasing large amounts of methane and increasing the use of fossil fuels for electricity and transportation.
Happy National Tree Planting Day
Despite these challenges, Kenya’s per capita emissions are still relatively low, at about 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person per year, compared to the global average of about 4.8 tonnes.
How the devastating effects of climate change ravage Kenya
Climate change is not just an environmental issue for Kenya; it threatens the very fabric of society.
Unpredictable rainfall patterns have prolonged droughts, severely impacting water accessibility and agricultural output.
This is a significant concern in a country where agriculture is the backbone of the economy, employing 75% of the workforce. Moreover, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods and storms, have increased, leading to displacement, loss of life, and infrastructure damage.
This means that this tree-planting initiative has immense potential benefits, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of climate change.
Meanwhile, the Kenyatta National Hospital Climate Change Committee Unit members included Gilbert Obegi (HOD-Public Health), Peter Kamau (Manager-Ads), Geoffrey Mogaka Morara (STSA), Vilesta Ajode, and Paul Mwangi.
The UoE team included, among others, Dr. Munyao T.M. (Chair ESC), Elsie Boit (Corporate Affairs and Marketing), Francis Biwott (Tree Nursery), Sheila Jepng’etich (Tree Nursery), and Elphas Koris (Tree Nursery).
