Kenya's leading Environment and Forestry parastatals have lauded Meru County Governor H.E. Kiraitu Murungi for the ambitious measures and strategies adopted by his administration towards ensuring environmental conservation and protection. The agencies which have been to Meru County on a three-day tour, include Kenya Forest Service(KFS) led by the Chairman Mr. Peter Kinyua, National Environmental Trust Fund(NETFUND) led by CEO, former Vihiga Governor Hon. Moses Akaranga, the Kenya Water Towers Agency led by Chairperson, former Kitui Governor Hon. Prof. Julius Malombe, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) led by Director General Prof. Geoffrey Wahungu and Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) officials.

The team praised Governor Kiraitu for starting the greening and beautification Program for towns and highways, taking note of the tree planting project along Nanyuki-Meru Highway, which they said is a show of his great commitment towards increasing forest cover, a key objective by the national Government.

"We are extremely impressed by this project and we are committing to support it by replanting the dried trees and also work with the communities along the highway to ensure the trees are maintained to maturity," said KFS Chairman, Mr. Kinyua.

They noted the ongoing investment by the Governor towards opening up of ecotourism sites and mountain tourism in Mt. Kenya and Nyambene forests as positive move aimed at encouraging exploitation of tourism potential of the County ecosystems while encouraging conservation.

Governor Kiraitu thanked the agencies for recognizing the efforts by his Government and pledged to continue working closely with them to ensure Meru County becomes the lead and model County in the country on environmental conservation and protection.

It shall be remembered that when the Governor started the Nanyuki-Meru Highway Beautification Program, it was met with skepticism and dismissal by certain individuals in the political circles in the County, and political attempts made to undermine the project.

However, responding to this on the World Environmental Day, Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko who was in Meru with the agencies, said that such attempts to politicize Governor Kiraitu’s work are misguided, misinformed and ignorant, because the ongoing environment conservation work in the County shows that the Governor is foresighted, informed and focused on the future of Meru County and the country at large.

The heads of parastatals also went on tour of Mt. Kenya through the 22 kilometer road constructed by the County Government to access Lake Ellis which is at 13,000 feet at the top of Mt. Kenya as part of the Governor’s efforts to open the Mt. Kenya National Park for ecotourism. Governor Kiraitu showcased to the agencies, potential of Meru County in the tourism sector on the course of the exciting expedition up the mountain.

Top County Government officials, Chief of Staff Hon. Gideon Kimathi, County Secretary Dr. Rufus Miriti and County Executive for Tourism Maingi Mugambi were among the leaders who also accompanied the Governor and guests on the tour.
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