OPENING REMARKS BY VICE-CHANCELLOR DURING MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY’S 3RD ANNUAL TREE PLANTING DAY

Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Machakos County-Eng.Francis Maliti

The County Commissioner, Machakos County

County Minister for Environment – Hon. Naomi Mutie

County Minister for Education Mr. Lazrus Kivuva

County Director, NEMA – Ms. Sophie Mutemi

Area MCA – Hon. Caleb Mutiso

Students and staff of Machakos University

Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning!

It gives me great pleasure again to welcome you all for yet another day geared towards protecting our environment by planting trees. I am delighted to see our friends from the county and the central government, students and the members of staff of Machakos University all here for this important occasion. I take this opportunity to appreciate your presence and thank you for sparing your valuable time to attend this great event.

Ladies and Gentlemen

This tree planting is not only a yearly ritual but as a University, we have made it a reality that has to be undertaken as part of our commitment to preserve our environment. We are all aware of the government’s commitment to preserve our forests and as we speak, the government’s efforts to evacuate people from the Mau forest is on. Additionally, presidential directive requires that all students in learning institutions implement “Adapt a tree initiative” , where every student need to plant a tree as his or her incubation centre with the aim of achieving the National Strategy for 10% tree cover by 2022. As a government institution, Machakos University takes pride to be part of the government’s intentions to increase forest cover in this part of the country. Such yearly practice to plant trees should be viewed with seriousness as it remains the cornerstone of preserving our country from environmental degradation.

On the world perspective, global warming has become a threat to all humanity because of man’s activities that destroy the ozone layer. The natural and the seasonal pattern of the way of the earth is no longer taking place the way God intended. Rains hardly come in the right time frame we expect them and the environmental order of things are not happening as expected.

Ladies and Gentlemen

These misgivings and mishappenings around us should serve as a warning that we need to take care of our environment and plant trees. Planting trees does not only conserves environment but it sustains life and enhances peace and hope towards the future. The Late, Prof. Wangari Maathai, a celebrated environmentalist once said “when we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope”. A tree, therefore is “a symbol of hope for us. It remains strong through dry seasons hoping for a rainy tomorrow. It aggressively amasses the wind which eventually results to rain-thus trees are a source a brighter future. The more you plant trees around you the more you grow your hope for the future.”

As I conclude, allow me to express my gratitude to all of you who came for this tree planting annual event. Am grateful to all of you who honored our invitation and accepted to join us today for this event.

 I thank you and God bless you.