The Kenya Re has donated Ksh. One Million towards the rehabilitation of 400 hectares within the Kaptagat forest ecosystem. They will also distribute 100,000 avocado fruit seedlings to forest edge communities as a way of incentivizing them to embrace environmental conservation as a lifestyle.
The donations have been made to the Government through the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) ahead of the 7th annual Kaptagat Forest Tree Planting to be held this Saturday(1st July 2023) in Elgeyo Marakwet. The tree planting will be done around the Kessup, Sabor, Kaptagat, Pennon and Kipkabus forest blocks.
Kaptagat Forest Station is part of the larger Cherangany Forest Ecosystem, an important water catchment for Lake Victoria and one of the five water towers in Kenya.
Kenya Re’s commitment to contribute towards forest rehabilitation builds on last year’s event where they planted 50,000 tree seedlings at Uplands Forest Station in Kiambu county with support from the local community forest association. This year, Kenya Re is slated to plant 10,000 tree seedlings at Lenana School, Nairobi in furtherance of its environmental conservation efforts.
Kenya Re Group Managing Director Dr Hillary Wachinga, said, “We are passionate about the environment and through our Niko Fiti Environment campaign, we have contributed to our country’s efforts in combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal number 13 on climate change. The avocado seedlings are aimed at giving the community a reason to double their efforts towards forest conservation by planting fruit trees within their farms for commercial gain.”
The Corporation’s support to environmental conservation comes in the backdrop of the enhancement of its brand awareness via its well-known flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme – Niko Fiti. The programme has now been revamped to include 3 pillars –Education, environment, and support for persons with disability.