The government has urged people living near forests with water sources to conserve them.
Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi said the sources play a role in feeding the country with clean water.
“We need to conserve all our forests. We have water sources which feed this country with clean water,” she said.
She spoke at River Nyongara in Ondiri, Kikuyu forest in Kikuyu constituency on Friday.
Pastor Dorcas led locals to plant 5,000 seedlings in an exercise where trees were planted in different parts of the country.
This followed President William Ruto’s directive as the country honoured those who were affected by the rains.
She was supported by Friends of Ondiri Swamp CEO David Wakogi who said the government has important plans for water sources.
“We have been working with the government to conserve the Ondiri Swamp and River Nyongara, and the government has important plans behind conserving clean water sources” Wakogi said.
Pastor Dorcas was accompanied by Kiambu County forest conservator Thomas Kiptoo, and Kikuyu deputy county commissioner Charles Laboso among other leaders.
She said they support Ruto’s directive of attaining 30 per cent tree cover by 2032 to protect the environment.
Kiptoo said River Nyongara and Ondiri Swamp are the main sources of the Nairobi River.
Pastor Dorcas urged the community to participate in fulfilling the government’s plan of planting 15 billion trees by 2030, by planting trees at homes, and public places and even participating in tree planting activities.
At the same time, she applauded society for supporting the government in the war on alcoholism and drug abuse.
However, she insisted that the war would continue.
She decried that those affected were young and middle-aged people.
The Second Lady said counselling which was being offered by her office to the affected people, would continue until they change.
The deputy county commissioner applauded locals for turning up in large numbers in the tree planting exercise.
The administrator also appealed to locals to continue supporting the government by feeding it with information about those breaking the law.
“We need all your support. Keep giving us all the information that you have regarding the lawbreakers. We need to have a society where everybody is responsible,” Laboso said.
