Avail Title Deeds To Schools, State Urged
Kenya Forestry Service has urged the Education and Lands ministries to move swiftly to ensure that all public schools have title deeds.
Busia’s chief conservator, Vitalis Osodo, stated that ownership disputes between people or communities and educational institutions are among the obstacles to school development.
He stated that tree planting in some schools, particularly in Busia, had failed partly because communities think the land belongs to them and have converted schools into grazing lands.
“Land ownership is an issue in schools and that is why most of these schools are being encroached and the issue has affected tree growing because most of the trees are browsed on by livestock,” Osodo said.
He noted that some schools are not even fenced; when they are, community members cut down the fences so their livestock can graze there.
Osodo stated that KFS would seek to fulfill its mandate of ensuring educational institutions participate in the fight against climate change by planting trees.
He urged partners involved in environmental protection to act immediately and assist the tree planting effort.
Regarding the planting of trees in schools, Osodo said, I would like to echo our partners because KFS cannot work alone to ensure that tree planting is done at the right time and in the right way so that we can achieve our goals because now we are looking at 30 percent tree cover.” Osodo said.
Among the partners with whom KFS collaborates is the Dedan Kimathi Foundation, which has been actively involved in environmental preservation.
Equity Bank, Absa, and Kenya Commercial Bank are also partners.
Osodo stated that with the new administration, KFS intends to ensure that the government institution launches a greening school program in which students plant trees as an academic activity.
Avail Title Deeds To Schools, State Urged
