Tessie Musalia, the wife of Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS), persons with disabilities (PWDs), and Ahadi Kenya Trust launched a nationwide tree restoration project.
The project which aligns with President William Ruto’s agenda of increasing Kenya’s forest cover, seeks to mitigate the country’s vulnerability to climate change.
Speaking during the launch Mrs. Mudavadi underscored the need to involve persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the national forest restoration campaign.
She noted that PWDs had not been co-opted in the nationwide tree planting exercise which is aimed at attaining a 15 billion tree target by the year 2032.
“As we strive towards conservation of our environment, we should not forget or sideline Persons with Disabilities. They are a vulnerable part of our society and when resources are strained, they bear the bigger part of the negative effects of change,” said Mrs. Musalia.
According to KBC news reports, the campaign dubbed “Kuzingatia Mazingara Yetu” saw officers from the Kenya Police Service, Kenya Forest Service, and the visually impaired community from Nyeri plant 3,000 tree seedlings at the Kiganjo Police College grounds.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja who helped Mrs. Mudavadi spearhead the exercise noted that the college had already supported President William Ruto’s Jaza Miti campaign by planting 14,000 tree seedlings last year and plans were underway to double the numbers before the end of this year.
At the same time, Ahadi Trust Kenya Chief Executive Officer Dr. Stanley Kamau revealed that a similar campaign will be launched in Embakasi A and Embakasi B training colleges adding that more than 20,000 seedlings had already been set aside for the campaign.
Dr. Kamau while echoing Mrs. Mudavadi’s sentiments on PWDs, asked national and county government stakeholders to consider bringing the PWDs on board in their campaigns.
He said that despite their vulnerabilities, they had proven themselves capable of making a positive contribution if supported.
“T would also like to urge other stakeholders in the national and county governments to consider bringing on board the PWDs in their campaigns because their disability doesn’t necessarily mean they cannot contribute in other ways,” said Kamau.
Daniel Kagema, one of the persons with visual disabilities could not hide his joy after being involved in the tree-planting exercise. He at the same expressed the commitment of PWDs to supporting community initiatives.