Wangari Maathai's dream of a tree planting day 'came true'

The National Tree Planting Day has revived the dream of the late Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Mathaai, according to environmental activists and leaders in her home in Tetu, Nyeri County, where she left a legacy in tree planting. Her ability to mobilise small women groups to plant tree seedlings and earn income is felt to date in the constituency.

The Green Belt Movement's first event was where the late Prof Maathai encouraged the women of Kenya to plant tree nurseries throughout the country, searching nearby forests for seeds to grow trees native to the area.

She agreed to pay the women a small stipend for each seedling that was later planted elsewhere.

Gertrude Kagiri an environmentalist and a founder of the Tetu Environment art group explained the efforts of the late Prof in tree planting and conservation were unique and impactful to date.

"I worked with the late professor when she was Tetu MP in 2003, and also Assistant Minister for the environment, she was humble and knew the language to convince the public of the need to plant trees, especially youth and women," Ms Kagiri said.

Ms Kagiri said Prof Maathai would facilitate women groups within her constituency to prepare tree nursery beds for indigenous trees and later buy the seedlings through the green belt movement to go and plant them in the forest.

Fidelis Kanene the Founder of Go Green Hub Community Based Organisation in Nyeri County and Nominated MCA, said nobody can talk about climate change without remembering Prof Maathai.

"Through her advocacy for environmental justice and women empowerment, we have food security. The trees that were planted more than ten years ago are giving us social, economic, mental, and aesthetic value," Ms Kanene said.

She added that her organisation is targeting to grow 10 million trees in Nyeri County. With schools planting 30 per cent fruit trees and the rest indigenous and exotic trees adding that they have already planted 1.8 million trees.

Young people

"In her quest to liberate forests, Prof Maathai and other women founded the Green Belt Movement. Through her inspiration, Go Green Hub was founded," she said.

"We mostly work with young people from colleges and universities. We believe in inculcating a culture of tree planting in the young generation as they are the drivers of change," Ms Kanene observed.

Additionally, she said youths are involved in planting and nurturing trees not only as a fun exercise but also to keep them away from drugs.

Young people

Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto, during a tree planting day at Tetu Vocational Technical College, said the constituency has the highest forest coverage in the country at 60 per cent.

"Tetu constituency has the highest forest coverage since the residents started to plant trees a long time ago during the late Professor Maathai's efforts on tree planting through her foundation of The Green Belt Movement," he said.

Wandeto said he intended to plant more than 4.3 Million trees within ten years to continue with the dream of his predecessor.

"Today alone I intend to plant 100,000 trees through community groups who have been conserving the environment," Wandeto said.

The Tetu legislator assured the women and youth groups with tree seedlings that he would support them in buying the trees to be planted elsewhere.

Wandeto called for other MPs to pass policies on carbon credit so that the farmers in rural areas where they plan trees can benefit from the kitty.

"Conservation of the environment is a personal responsibility I appeal to the public to plant indigenous trees, "he said.

Currently, Nyeri County leads in forest cover at 40.81 per cent and tree cover at 45.17 per cent, according to Kenya Forest Service's July 2022 report.

Ten years

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga insisted that these statistics are not just numbers but a testament to the County's unwavering commitment to nurturing and safeguarding our national heritage.

"Nyeri County has led in tree planting following the footsteps of our heroine, Prof Maathai, who guarded our forests, and her efforts were fruitful," Kahiga said.

Nyeri County forest conservator Moses Wahome Ndegwa said the late Prof Maathai was an icon.

"Her passion for tree planting was unique and incomparable in Nyeri. We are proud of her efforts to make Nyeri a green place," Ndegwa said.

He insisted Nyeri County is leading on tree cover at 45.17 per cent through the late professor's efforts.

Enough fruit

George Ndirangu, the founder of Jikaze Trees and Fruits Nursey at Gatitu, attributes his business to the late Prof Maathai, who encouraged him to start a tree tomato nursery at his home at Kangaita.

Currently, he has more than 70,000 fruit seedlings, expanding his tree nursery beds from Gatitu, Kangaita, and Nyahururu.

Ndirangu appealed to the government to consider planting enough fruit trees in the forest to minimise human-wildlife conflicts, including the monkeys who invaded the farm to seek fruits.

Inherited passion

At Ihithe Village, home to the late Prof Wangari, Peter Muta Nderitu, a nephew to the late explained his aunt's passion for planting trees was inherited from her father, Haron Muta.

Within the compound, various indigenous trees stand tall with some more than 100 years old.

However, Muta explained since the Professor's demise, the home has been abandoned since her children have no connection to their mother's rural home.