Honourable Principal Secretary for the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Aurelia Rono representing the Prime Cabinet Secretary, distinguished guests, representatives from national and county governments, our partners from the private sector including KCB Bank and Equity Bank, staff and students, ladies and gentlemen.
I am honored to welcome you all to Egerton University for the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s Tree Planting Exercise. I want to sincerely thank the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary for leading this important initiative as part of the National Programme for Accelerated Forestry and Rangelands Restoration. This programme aims to grow 15 billion trees by 2032. It is crucial for improving climate resilience, restoring damaged ecosystems and securing Kenya’s environmental future.
Egerton University is proud to be involved in this journey. For many years, we have contributed to conservation and rehabilitation in the Mau Forest Complex through research, environmental education, watershed restoration, tree planting, and community outreach programmes. Being located within the Mau ecosystem, we understand how vital it is to protect this water tower that supports millions of livelihoods across Kenya and the broader East African region.
Our commitment has grown stronger through our partnership in the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, known as MFC-ICLIP. This ten-year programme brings together government, academia, development partners, communities and the private sector to restore damaged landscapes, protect water resources, improve livelihoods and promote climate resilience in the Mau ecosystem.
Through this partnership, Egerton University continues to offer research expertise, technical support, environmental education and community engagement initiatives aimed at restoring ecosystems and improving livelihoods around the Mau Complex.
Today’s event, where we are planting 5,000 tree seedlings through the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and an additional 2,400 tree seedlings donated by KCB, shows what can happen when government, academia, communities and corporate partners come together with a shared vision. Therefore, I want to thank KCB Bank and Equity Bank for their support in this important environmental cause.
Let us continue to work together to restore, protect and sustain our environment for future generations. Thank you.
