Nyamira County Commissioner (CC), Erastus Mbui, led students, government officials, and local residents from Borabu Sub-County in planting 4,000 trees in celebration of Mazingira Day.
During the event, Commissioner Mbui highlighted that Mazingira Day aligns with the President’s directive to combat climate change by planting 15 billion trees across the country by 2030. He emphasized that human activities have significantly disrupted once-predictable rainfall patterns, making farming more challenging, threatening food security, and causing damage to property due to frequent flooding.
“Our environment is severely endangered by improper waste disposal,” Mbui noted. “From our homes, we mishandle liquid and solid waste, disrupting the natural processes that maintain fresh air, soil fertility, and overall environmental conservation.”
He also expressed concern over the region’s dwindling land resources, worsened by population growth in urban areas. The Commissioner pointed out that the cutting of trees to make space for housing and over-tilling already nutrient-depleted land has harmed the county’s once-beautiful, therapeutic landscape.
Mbui called on students and young people to adopt a habit of planting and caring for trees at home and in school to help restore the fragile environment for future generations.
Nyamira’s County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Environment, Water, Mining, and Natural Resources, John Matiang’i, shared that the county government has heavily invested in tree planting initiatives, particularly in public institutions and open spaces, as part of efforts to restore the environment.
Matiang’i raised concerns about the widespread planting of eucalyptus trees along riparian and water catchment areas, which has caused water sources to dry up, making access to water increasingly difficult.
“Our county passed a law banning the planting of eucalyptus trees along riverbanks, and we will soon enforce it. We’ll also provide alternative water-conserving trees to those affected to help maintain a cooler climate in our county,” Matiang’i said.
He further stressed that despite the minimal contribution from the county to global climate change, the effects will still be felt locally. Therefore, it’s crucial for everyone to contribute to environmental conservation, regardless of their role in causing the crisis.
Matiang’i urged residents to plant indigenous trees, fruit trees, and other species that conserve water and the environment. These efforts, he said, would enhance food security, improve nutrition, clean the environment, and support economic stability.
The Mazingira Day celebrations in Nyamira concluded with a football match, dubbed the Mazingira Cup, between St. Kizito Nyansongo Boys’ teachers and a community football club from Borabu Sub-County.
DSC_5113_1.JPG:- Nyamira County Commissioner, Erastus Mbui planting trees at St. Kizito DOK primary school to mark Mazingira day.
DSC_5206_JPG:- Nyamira County Executive Committee Member for Environmental, water, mining and Mineral resources planting a tree at St. Kizito DOK primary school to mark Mazingira Day in Nyamira.
DSC_5219_1.JPG:- Students of St KIzito Nyansongo Boys high school in Nyamira and government officers planting trees at the Boys school to mark Mazingira day.