Saving Kyamutotya Water Tower - 60,000 Trees Planted

Dr. Temi (in yellow) with Friends of Kyamutotya Group during recent tree planting event 

Our Reporter 

In a bid to safe one of the key water towers in Kitui County - the famous Kyamutotya Hills in Mwingi West - a caucus group has taken it upon itself to annually plant trees to protect the water sanctuary. 

Friends of Kyamutotya Tree Planting Group has for the last six years in a row planted an estimated 60,000 trees, the latest being this week when the group planted 10,000 seedlings in an event also attended by Mwingi West DCC Jama Mahamoud. 

Speaking during the annual tree planting event, Dr. Temi Mutia who is the patron of the group noted that there is need for every Kenyan to make Climate Change adaptation a priority.

He said that this should be done in a simple and practical manner in order to cope with the effects of climate change.

 "In the recent past, the Global conversation is fundamentally about Climate Change and its extreme devastating negative effects. We need to gather ourselves and move with congruence of purpose in at least planting trees. This is one way of mitigating against the biting effects of climate change," Dr. Temi said as he led his team in planting 10,000 seedlings at the water tower.

 The water tower, with green shrubbery and towering trees planted 6 years ago is where the the scenic Ikoo valley begins before meandering its way to Kitui East. It is also the source of two rivers and a number of tributaries that feed thousands of households below.  

Dr. Temi advised that Climate Change discussions need to be moved from conference halls and boardrooms which only serve to provide good opportunity for photo sessions as vagaries of the changing climate continue to bite with vengeance. 

"We need to get our act together. We need to face the dragon of climate change head on and build resilience around it," the top scholar explained.  

A school kid also planted trees

Mr. Stephen Musango, the Chairman of the Group revealed that the group's target is plant over 1 million trees on and around Kyamutotya hill by 2025.

"This is the only water tower we have in the whole of Mwingi West. Let every well meaning individual and Government support this initiative," Musango said. He said in future, the tree 🎄🌴 planting event will be held twice in a year. 

Speaking during the same occasion, the Mwingi West DCC Mr. Mahamoud highly commented the group's efforts in saving the water tower.

 "This is indeed commendable. What you have done for the last 5 years is clearly visible. These efforts should be emulated," the DCC remarked after planting several seedlings. 

DCC not left behind in conservation 

Equity Bank, Mwingi Branch Manager Mr. Philip Nthumo who also attended the event assured Friends of Kyamutotya and other similar groups that the bank will continue partnering with them and supporting similar initiatives to safe the environment and humanity.