Learners and staff at Kwale School for the Mentally Disabled have joined a countywide tree-planting campaign as part of activities marking Mazingira Week ahead of National Environment Day celebrations on October 10.

 The exercise, held on Tuesday, was led by Kwale County Forest Conservator Sailas Tsuma of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), who said primary and secondary schools as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the county were expected to participate in tree planting.

            Tsuma said the choice of the special school was intended to demonstrate the important contribution of learners living with disabilities to environmental conservation and national development.           

“Everyone is aware of Mazingira Day, which is usually celebrated on the 10th of October, and this year there will be ongoing activities throughout the week,” he said.           

He said the week-long programme was officially launched on Monday and would culminate in the main celebrations on October 10.           

Tsuma commended the learners for actively participating in the tree-planting exercise, saying their involvement demonstrated that disability should not prevent anyone from contributing to environmental conservation.           

He also reminded Kenyans of the government’s target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, saying preparations were underway for the main tree-planting event at Tsunza, where about 100,000 seedlings are expected to be planted.           

Isaiah Saitoti of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) urged residents to sustain tree-planting activities, noting that trees were essential for human survival and environmental protection.           

“As much as water is life, trees are also life, and for us to get clean and fresh air that will only be made possible by planting trees,” Saitoti said.           

He urged communities to make tree planting a continuous activity rather than limiting it to national environmental events.           

Hakim Abdalla of Samba Sports said planting trees should be accompanied by proper care of seedlings to improve their survival rates and ensure they provide long-term environmental benefits.

Mwanaidi Mwasina, a teacher at the school, said the institution already had a tree nursery where learners participated in planting and nurturing seedlings.           

She said the learners were familiar with the practical aspects of tree growing and understood the importance of protecting the environment.           

Hassan Mwadima, the head of scouts in Kwale County, said the school had previously excelled in environmental conservation activities. He cited the “I Am a Tree” programme and the Kifaru Challenge, which focused on rhino conservation, as examples of initiatives in which learners had participated.           

Senior Head of Institution Sophie Obdia Wedo said the school was proud to have been selected to represent other institutions in the county during the Mazingira Week activities.

“It means you saw ability beyond disability,” Wedo said.           

She said the school’s wildlife club, Team Sayari and scouts were actively involved in environmental conservation and would ensure the newly planted seedlings were properly cared for.   

Wedo said the school had adopted the conservation slogan, “Panda miti, utunze mazingira kwa taifa letu la Kenya,” encouraging learners and the wider community to plant trees and protect the environment.

The Mazingira Week activities, which began on Monday with an official launch and town clean-up, will include agroforestry, land restoration and additional clean-up exercises ahead of National Environment Day celebrations on October 10.

by Mtumwa Makange and Achieng Eurelia