The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo led a tree planting exercise, where 3,000
seedlings were planted in the vast Kamatira forest in West Pokot County. The Company’s General Manager, Technical Services Dr. (Eng.) Joseph
Siror and West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo led hundreds of
local residents, County government officials and KETRACO staff in the
one-day tree planting exercise.
The Company undertook the initiative in adherence to a presidential tree planting call that aims at increasing the national forest coverage by 10 percent. “Other than environmental health, tree planting is important to the wellbeing of both animals and human beings. It is globally recognized as one of the most engaging, environmentally friendly activity,” Dr. Siror said. Siror said trees were able to absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year noting that this will enhance air quality and also aid in controlling floods by slowing down heavy rains.
He said forests aid in providing natural filtration of water for its storage systems process nearly two-thirds of water supply. “This project, therefore, is expected to be of great impact to West Pokot Community and towards the achievement of Vision 2030,” said Dr. Siror. He said the initiative was also in appreciation of the Company’s Turkwel-Ortum-Kitale electricity transmission project that traverses the County.
He said if the project is completed, it will improve power supply, reliability and provide stable voltage profiles within the greater North Rift region. “The ongoing 138KM 22kV single circuit line has a rating of 106MW and runs from the Turkwel power plant to Ortum and Kitale. The project includes two substations at Ortum and Kitale and expansion of Turkwel Substation. It will provide an alternative power supply path for power generated at Turkwel,” he said.
Governor Lonyangapuo said that the County had also distributed 140,000 tree seedlings across the County. “I urge everyone to take advantage of this rainy season and plant trees. Conservation of our environment is the duty of everyone,” he said.