NEMA warns counties against depleting forests
National Environment Management Agency (NEMA) Board Director, Samwel Nyangeso has warned county governments against hiving off forests for development, saying it depletes the environment.
Consequently, he has challenged the governments to look for alternative land for their projects and shun encroaching designated forests and water catchment areas, saying a lot of forest land has been lost due to arbitrary use and degraded the environment.
The former defunct Kisii Municipality Mayor appealed to the counties to avoid cutting trees without replacing them, stressing continued depletion is causing climate change and threatening lives of people and wild animals.
Nyangeso, who visited Keumbu Holiness and Emborogo orphanages in Nyaribari Chache constituency and Masaba respectively, and donated food, urged the county government to avoid interfering with the forests and wetlands and instead buy land to set up projects.
“The counties have to strike a balance between nature and human activities to avoid desertification in the country and loss of lives,” Nyangeso said at Emborogo on Sunday, December 25 after he led over 60 children in planting 1000 trees donated by the Department of Forestry.
Emborogo Hill Forest
The director, accompanied by the orphanage’s Director, Evans Nyamari, and area Assistant Chief, Stanley Osumo deplored the degradation of Emborogo Hill Forest, saying, he will mobilize residents to plant 5000 trees in the area to protect it.
Kisii County Culture and Sports Executive Committee Member, Eric Ongeri, who also donated blankets and foodstuff at Keumbu Holiness orphanage said the county government would release bursary funds to Wards and urged Members of the County Assembly to give orphans a priority.
“We are donating foodstuff and other items to seven orphanages across the county on behalf of governor Simba Arati. I urge other people to also support the children,” Ongeri said, adding the governor had hosted about 5000 children at Gusii Stadium for the Christmas celebration.
Keumbu Holiness Children’s Home Director, Pastor Abel Onchari and Nyamari urged well wishers to support the children with fees and funds to improve infrastructure to enhance their education and welfare.
