SHOFCO leads CBOs in tree planting exercise in Nairobi

Speaking during the exercise SHOFCO Chief Strategy Officer Mark Laichena said the organisation is capitalising on CBOs to plant trees because they can easily identify empty spaces that can be made useful by planting trees. 

“We are grateful to be hosted by Mathare River Regeneration Network which has been carrying out tree planting in this area. 

“If you want to restore riparian land and plant trees, you have to work with community-based organisations. We at SHOFCO are very proud to be hosted by CBOs to plant trees today,” Laichena said. 

The exercise was carried out across the country by SHOFCO through its Shofco Urban Network (SUN) program that saw up to 5000 trees planted today. 

Some 500 trees were planted in Lucky Summer along the Nairobi River. 

Lucky Summer Sub-Location Assistant Chief Peris Muthoni Ngethe thanked the CBOs who participated in the tree planting exercise.

“I want to appreciate all the CBOs who have participated in this exercise today. It is a noble cause to reclaim riparian land so that we can reduce the effects of floods in our neighbourhoods,” Muthoni said. 

The chief said youth have been participating in tree planting exercises along the Nairobi River in Lucky Summer Ward since 2019.

“Tree planting has made our riparian land look beautiful. We are encouraging CBOs to come on board to make sure that trees planted today are well taken care of. Thank you SHOFCO for leading this noble cause,” she added. 

Victor Onyango, one of the youth in Lucky Summer, said they recovered many bodies that were swept away by raging waters in the area.

“I’m glad that we are planting trees in this area today because this is where we recovered bodies of flood victims. It is a good way of remembering them,” he said. 

Friday, May 10, was gazetted as a public holiday to mark the National Tree Growing Day. 

The day was also set to remember Kenyans who have died from the nationwide floods. 

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said that the day will help address climate change as "tree growing is the singular long-term solution to the climate crisis and its devastating effects on life and livelihoods."