By Sefu Sabila
Worth Noting:
- Wilhelminah Juma, a youth climate change champion, says the fight against climate change in the country is a collective responsibility. According to her, the adverse effects of climate change affected Kenyans across borders, though dry regions were most affected.
- “When we champion about climate change, it is not our part as climate champions, it is a joint responsibility of every Kenyan. We cannot achieve the desired forest cover if it is only one party working towards it, and another party working against the other one. We need joint efforts in countering climate change.” Miss Wilhelminah said.
In 2018, former president Uhuru Kenyatta banned logging in the country. The then national assembly committee on environment chaired by Kereke Mbiuki, had asked former President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare logging a national disaster because of its devastating consequences.
The country experienced a long term drought after four decades, which was attributed to climatic change. Affected the most were semi-arid and arid counties in the country, with pastoralist counties of West Pokot, Kajiado, Samburu, Turkana, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Baringo, Narok and Elgeyo Markwet hit hard by the drought and famine.
Wilhelminah Juma, a youth climate change champion, says the fight against climate change in the country is a collective responsibility. According to her, the adverse effects of climate change affected Kenyans across borders, though dry regions were most affected.
“When we champion about climate change, it is not our part as climate champions, it is a joint responsibility of every Kenyan. We cannot achieve the desired forest cover if it is only one party working towards it, and another party working against the other one. We need joint efforts in countering climate change.” Miss Wilhelminah said.
An assessment done by National Forest Resource Assessment in 2022 showed that Kenya forest cover had increased from 5.9 percent in 2018 to 12.13 percent equivalent to 7,180,000 hectares in 2022. The country had already surpassed the 10% cover as stated in the constitution.
However, environmentalists faulted the move by President William Ruto on lifting the six year ban on logging in the country. Miss Juma says the move is bitter sweet at the end. While it paves way for employment opportunities, it is also endangering the ratio of rainfall in the country.
“Uplift on the ban, is a double aged sword for this country. Remember, there are private farmers who are logging their already matured trees for various reasons financial being one of them. I would have urged the ban reinstated to public forests more and enforcement done with all associated bodies like NEMA, KFS, KWS and KEFRI, so that all tress cut down by people are ascertained to be matured.” She explained.
“Secondly, there should also be a more advanced approach after granting the permit. Anyone who wants to cut trees in communism or public forests should first purchase at least some reasonable amount number of tree seedling for replacement. Kenya Forest Services can also liaise with the CFAs in planting, growing and nurturing them.” she further added.
Trans Nzoia county being a major food producer for the country, the long dry months affected the planting season, leading to higher prices of maize and flour in supermarkets. Miss Juma urges need for protection of the already main forest in Kitale, Kitale Township, which is already experiencing encroachment and logging by timber yard owners and farmers.
“For trans nzoia specifically, the main forest (Kitale township) still experiences logging with or without the ban being lifted. I believe enforcement and working with all relevant bodies; So that when there is a gap with KFS, at least another will notice before we lose many trees.” She added.
Last week, PS Gitonga Mugambi in-charge of Climate change and Forestry and Governor George Natembeya led the residents of Kapolet in planting 10,000 trees in the Kapolet Forest. This in complementing the efforts of the national government in planting 15 billion trees program, initiated by the president.
Early last month the country hosted a one week climate summit in Nairobi, where Africa heads of state made The Nairobi Declaration, proposed a new financing architecture responsive to Africa’s needs including debt restructuring and relief and the development of a new Global Climate Finance Charter through the United Nations General Assembly and the COP processes by 2025.
Miss Juma she will continue working towards enlightening the community on the need for tree planting in Trans Nzoia, as well as letting the authority to help them understand the missing gap.
“As an environmentalists am more of advocacy with every opportunity I get with the authority just to let them aware of the gaps within the environment sector and things they can factor in especially with the emerging changes to ensure conservation and protection .With the community it has been about awareness and senstization in increasing the tree cover through tree planting and growing and so far so good as the progress can be seen.” She said.
Mt Kenya Times