Private sector partners have teamed up with the government to plant trees in Michuki Memorial Park, along the Nairobi River, as part of cleaning up Nairobi and driving a nation wide tree planting campaign to improve the country’s forest cover.
The campaign dubbed #ChangeTheStory calls on all Kenyans to rally together and plant trees or donate towards the planting of trees.
NIC Group, Royal Media Services, Junior Achievement and The Green Belt Movement joined Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Mr. Keriako Tobiko and Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Mr. James Macharia; along with other partners in private sector and the Nairobi County government to reclaim the glory of the iconic Michuki Park.
NIC Group’s Group Managing Director Mr. John Gachora noted the need to start the initiative “in our own backyard”, Nairobi, before rolling out across the country.
“There is need to safe guard our green spaces in the city and Michuki Park is one of them,” he said. “If we are to improve the country’s forest cover, we must come together as a nation and challenge ourselves to plant trees. The campaign focuses on raising consciousness in every able Kenyan to plant a tree where they can. It also aims to educate Kenyans on the need for sustainability to ensure the trees grow. Other funds will go towards critical reforestation, key water towers across the country in order to influence some of the weather issues we have seen the country experiencing recently, including drought and the ongoing floods.”
NIC Bank and partners will be partnering with the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry whose role is to facilitate the reforestation effort by providing land, access to quality seeds as well as coordinate the private sectors efforts through the various agencies including; The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Water Towers Authority (KWTA).
He noted: “We recognise that a lot needs to be done, and it is a task that requires everyone’s input in order for lasting solutions to be found and implemented. We can reverse the extreme weather patterns we are experiencing in this generation through reforestation programmes. Let’s join hands to #ChangeTheStory.”
This initiative is founded upon different partner’s comparative strengths and unique niches in creating a national tree planting campaign and movement that aims to plant trees for an increased national tree cover. Members of the public can participate in the initiative by planting a tree or contributing funds through M-Pesa Paybill Business number 859855, Account Number Change The Story.
Corporate bodies are invited to join the movement and help change Kenya for the better by changing the story: let’s join hands to #ChangeTheStory.
