admin_county March 21, 2019

Beautification Exercise To Be Conducted Ahead of City Status

A beautification and greening exercise will be undertaken in Nakuru as the town inches closer to becoming a City.

Deputy Governor Dr. Eric Korir said the facelift will cover a stretch of 8Km as plans to award the city status gathers momentum.

Speaking during the International Forest Day celebrations held at Section 58 today, the Deputy Governor said trees play a critical role in climate change including global warming.

“We are committed to ensure that Nakuru is green even as we look forward to being awarded City status,” he said.

He said the theme for this year’s event ‘Education and Trees’ ryhmes with the importance of sensitizing the youth to embrace conservation.

Representatives from the Kenya Defence Forces(KDF),Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS),Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and local schools planted trees to mark the day.

The DG said communities should be involved in conservation so that they appreciate the importance of planting and protecting trees.

He said Nakuru County forest cover stands at 9.28 which is below the 10 per cent national average cover.

County Executive Committee Member(CECM) for Water, Environment and Natural Resources Festus Ng’eno said the county government is determined to ensure that Nakuru restores it’s lost glory.

“Nakuru was at one point the cleanest town and we are committed to restoring it’s glory as it prepares to become a city,” he said.

The CECM said the programme for the beautification and greening of the town will soon be rolled out.

Ng’eno said forests are key in combating climate change and contribute to the prosperity and well being of current and future generations.

The Director of Environment Mureithi Kiogora said the county will take decisive action against those involved in destruction of the environment.

“We are spending funds to conserve the environment and those destroying it will face the full force of the law,” he said.

County Assembly Environment Committee Chairman Gathariki Kamanu said the Assembly has come up with stiffer penalties for perpetrators of environmental degradation.

“You will now pay heavily if you are involved in illegal dumping and cutting of trees using power saws,”the MCA said