Machakos Presiding Judge, Environment and Land Court, Lady Justice Christine Ochieng, has urged Kenyans to protect and conserve riparian areas to combat climate change effects.
She called on the Water Resources and Management Authority (WARMA) to enforce laws and regulations governing riparian reserves to prevent further grabbing.
Ochieng led a tree planting drive at Machakos Boys High School, where over 3,500 tree seedlings were planted and 600 others given to the public.
She called on Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing rains to plant trees to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Eastern Regional Forest Conservator Edward Munene said Kenya Forest Service (KFS), in partnership with other stakeholders, targets to grow 1.8 million tree seedlings this season to achieve the government’s ambitious plan of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has launched a Long Rains Tree Growing Season, planting 5,000 tree seedlings in Maasai Mau Forest.
The initiative, under the theme of 15 billion trees by 2032, was a collaboration between the Paran Women Group and KFS.
The forest was chosen due to its degraded state and invasion by squatters. The forest is divided into restoration blocks, with over 136 blocks already adopted.
The Eden restoration project has been the most successful, with 16 blocks out of 56.
Other partners have also adopted blocks, including KFS, the Ministry of Energy, Kenya Water Towers, and others.
The conservation efforts have had a positive impact, with increased river water levels and the return of endangered animals.
The county forest conservators are leading the exercise in all 47 counties, collaborating with county governments and national government officials.
At least 5,000 people have so far been displaced by floods in Kisumu County following the backflow of water from Lake Victoria, with Nyando and Kadibo Sub-Counties being the worst hit.
The Kenya Red Cross has been on the ground to help evacuate families and divert water.
The government has distributed relief food to affected families at evacuation camps and deployed two excavators to open up the drainage system. Ombaka Junior Secondary School in Kakola village is facing hundreds of people seeking shelter in classrooms. Victims are afraid they may be sent away as schools reopen next week.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili has asked the government to fast track the construction of the Koru-Soin dam to contain floods downstream the river Nyando, which holds the promise of scaling up irrigation and food production in the area and a long-term solution to flooding.
Kakamega counterpart Ayub Savula has also asked the government to suspend some development programmes and channel funds towards mitigating floods in the country.
Police officers based at Nangili in Kakamega’s Likuyani Sub County yesterday recovered 13 stolen sheep following a raid at a homestead in Karara village in the neighbouring Trans Nzoia County.
Five suspects were also arrested during the raid, in connection with the theft but the main one, Jeremiah Njuguna managed to escape.
The five who include four men and a woman, who is the mother-in-law of the main suspect, will be arraigned in court to face theft charges.
Speaking to the press at Nangili police station, Kongoni location Chief Peter Lugano lauded residents for cooperating with security agencies towards recovery of the sheep.
He said, “For the last few weeks we have received numerous complaints from residents over increased theft cases of sheep in the area. However, today we have had a breakthrough following a tip-off from members of the public who led police officers to the homestead of the main suspect, who is now at large.”
Lugano said all 13 sheep worth Sh 130,000 have been positively identified by the owners.
He appealed to Kongoni residents to be vigilant and continue sharing information with security personnel for the sake of their own security.
He issued a warning to those abetting or involved in criminal activities in the location where their days are numbered.
Margret Khatemo, who positively identified her lamb, which was stolen a week ago, lauded Nangili police officers for their swift action to recover the sheep.
All Regional Directors of Education have been directed to provide data and information from their regions on the effects of the long rains that are being experienced in the country.
In a circular to all Regional Directors of Education, written by the Director General, Dr. Elyas Abdi, the officers have also been instructed to work closely with school boards of management and other stakeholders and ensure that all basic institutions in their regions open for the second term.
All basic education institutions are expected to open for the second term of the school calendar on 29th April, 2024, however, several parts of the country are reported to be experiencing heavy rains and flooding.
Dr. Abdi said the Ministry of Education is collecting data and information to establish readiness of all Basis Education institutions for the second term.
“The data on the effects of the rains and flooding will be crucial for planning and for sharing with the emergency cluster working groups,” he stated.