Kericho: Communities in Kericho County have been urged to embrace tree planting as part of efforts to conserve the environment and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change which continue to impact weather patterns and livelihoods. Speaking during this year’s World Environment Day celebrations held at the Kericho Township Technical and Vocational College (KTTVC), Kericho Land and Environment Court Judge Lady Justice Lynette Omollo emphasized the collective duty of environmental protection enshrined in the Constitution, highlighting the need for every Kenyan to take action to safeguard the environment for present and future generations. She commended the President’s plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
According to Kenya News Agency, Justice Omollo expressed her support for Article 69(1)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates the State to work towards achieving and maintaining a tree cover of at least 10 per cent of Kenya’s land area. She noted that this aligns with the President’s vision and stressed the importance of citizen cooperation with State organs and other entities in protecting and conserving the environment.
Justice Omollo highlighted the erratic weather patterns in the region as evidence that climate change is a present reality. She observed the shifts in weather patterns, such as drier conditions during traditionally rainy months, as indicators of the climate crisis. Justice Omollo underscored the critical role of trees in mitigating climate change by acting as natural carbon sinks, explaining how trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store it, thereby reducing greenhouse gas concentrations that contribute to global warming.
The Kericho Land and Environment Judge maintained that increasing tree cover would help trap more carbon dioxide, reduce global warming effects, improve air quality, and contribute significantly to national and global climate change mitigation efforts. She praised the TVET institution for adopting solar energy to reduce carbon footprints and encouraged the Kericho National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) to explore opportunities with the institution for generating income through carbon credit programs.
Justice Omollo revealed that the government had allocated funds for climate financing and urged stakeholders to intensify public sensitization efforts, ensuring communities are aware of and can benefit from available resources for climate change mitigation and adaptation programs. Present at the event was KTTVC Principal Shadrack Tonui, who reiterated the importance of trees in combating climate change, conserving water resources, and creating sustainable ecosystems.
The event, attended by the Kericho NEMA director Moses Moringat, representatives from the Kericho County Commissioners office, and officers from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), saw the planting of 3,500 indigenous tree seedlings within the KTTVC grounds. This initiative was part of efforts to increase tree cover and promote environmental conservation. The official theme for World Environmental Day 2026 is ‘Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For our Future.’
