Last week the government announced that Monday the 13th of November, on which World Tree Planting Day is commemorated, would be a national holiday to allow Kenyans to mark the day by planting trees. This is per the government’s goal to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 to combat the effects of climate change that have affected the country. Prolonged drought due to consecutive failed rainy seasons has crippled the country’s food production subjecting millions to famine. Thus, the effort is a step towards mitigating these effects for the oncoming generations.
Thus, as light showers poured on the earth on Monday morning, a group of students led by the Engineering Students’ Association chair Humphrey Otieno, faced the cold at the Mamlaka Hostels to plant several trees on the surrounding grounds. The activity was courtesy of three organizations, Mobius Motors, the National Construction Authority, and the Engineering Board of Kenya. Their representatives were present for the activity.
The representatives were asked why they felt it was important to partake in this exercise, this is what they had to say.
John Kavila, the technical director of Mobius Motors said that given they were in the automobile space assembling gasoline-powered vehicles that released carbon emissions, it was only right for them to participate and sponsor such activities to mitigate the effects of their carbon emissions. “For each car we produce, we ought to plant a certain number of trees.” He said fervently. Furthermore, he said not only are they taking part in such conservation efforts, but they are also pioneering e-mobility in Kenya by producing electric motorbikes that will effectively phase out fossil fuel use thus reducing carbon emissions and there are plans to make electric vehicles a staple in the market as the supporting infrastructure develops.
Nadia Odhiambo of the Engineering Board of Kenya said as a government body it was necessary for the board to sponsor and participate in these activities so as to follow through with the government agenda. As the regulatory body of the engineering practice, they set standards for the profession thus, by participating in such conservation efforts other engineers will follow suit. Nadia also said that the board participates in other conservation efforts by advocating for green materials and green building practices while also enacting policies that ensure sustainability in the engineering practice.
The event was a success with 200 seedlings successfully being planted on the Mamlaka Hostel grounds. All those present were treated to refreshments as a token of appreciation for turning up and partaking in this wonderful exercise. A representative team of ten students led by Humphrey, after the exercise joined the National Construction Authority team at Supplies Branch on Likoni Road for another tree planting exercise at the grounds.
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| Snapshots of the attendees of the planting Activity. Photos Courtesy of ESA |
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