By Albert Mwangeka
The Taita Taveta County has Allocated KES 2 Million for Landscape Restoration geared towards Greening Highways and Boosting Tourism.
In affirmation towards their boosting tree cover agenda H.E. Governor Andrew Mwadime’s administration has set aside KES 2 million to Community Based Organisations CBOs to be dedicated towards landscape restoration efforts.
During the official launch of the county’s roadside tree-growing in Mwatunge, Mwatate Sub-County in an campaign that targets to reach a stretch of 275km, the governor stated, “This initiative will not only beautify our highways but also position our county as a global tourist destination, and be emulated by other counties.”
“ Youths ought to take with seriousness the project and take ownership as they will be involved in maintaining and watering, ultimately growing, the seedlings to maturity,” the Governor added.
He urged the youth to take the project seriously and take ownership adding that their role in maintaining and watering the seedlings until they reach maturity is pivotal.
Grantone Mwandawiro the County Executive Committee Member ( CECM) in charge of Water, Sanitation, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, echoed governor Mwadime’s sentiments, emphasizing the benefits of nurturing trees to maturity.
He stated that the county’s landscapes are set to be restored as part of the tree-growing campaign, which requires every county resident to grow 100 trees per person annually for the next decade.
“Even in the face of urban development let’s prioritise growing trees as we need a cleaner environment and green spaces which assist in purifying the air,” he added
Chair Environment MCA Lilian Mwangoi and area MCA Joseph Kennedy encouraged youth involvement in growing trees to reverse climate change effects. .
The program is funded by the Financing Locally Led Climate Action, FLLoCA through the County Climate Change Fund where mlezenyi species dominantly picked as it is not popular feed for livestock.
The Mtito-Makina-Voi- Taveta stretch is to be covered during the course of this roadside tree-growing program.
However, during the launch 5km along the Voi-Taveta highway was covered.
