Governor Rotich banks on fruit trees to increase forest cover in Kerio Valley
Kerio Valley has been classified as a sleeping economic giant that is set to transform several livelihoods as the County pushes for growing of fruit trees.
The vast Kerio Valley belt, synonymous for banditry and cattle rustling could soon turn to an economic giant following plans by Governor Wisley Rotich to rally the locals to grow fruit trees in the area.
On Wednesday, Mr Rotich led a distribution exercise of more than 50,000 mango seedlings in Tot, Endo Ward in Marakwet East Sub-County in a ceremony graced by Dr. Salim Dokota, PS State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
In what he termed as transformation of Kerio Valley, the County boss regretted banditry in the region had slowed down his transformative agenda in the region.
The Governor said after several peace meetings in the area, for almost one year, this was the only development baraza to be held in the area.
He said: “This is the beginning of transforming Kerio Valley. The 50,000 when grown and nurtured will change the lives of our people. This will also help our forest cover which has depleted with time due to human activities. ”
The seedlings will be distributed across all Wards in Kerio Valley which include Endo, Lower Sambirir, Arror, Lower Emsoo and Tambach, Soy North and South, an exercise that kicked off yesterday.
He added that the push to grow fruit trees was in tandem of President William Ruto’s forest restoration program which aims at growing 15 billion trees. Mr Rotich aims to grow 60 million trees in five years.
“I urge our farmers to grow and nurture the mangoes. It is the next big thing in Kerio Valley considering the availability of a processor at the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) warehouse,” he added, “KVDA are our partners in this journey and they have already showed us their potential in value addition of our mangoes.”
The Governor said that he was happy that the narrative in Kerio Valley was changing. “It is no longer about banditry but development,” he added.
PS Dokota said he was encouraged with the move by the Governor to transform the once abandoned area.
He said he will support the Governor’s call for the readmission of Elgeyo Marakwet to the ASAL counties.
“This is my third visit to this County since I was appointed. I have seen your lands. They are fertile and productive. We are going to support you, ” he said.
KVDA Managing director Sammy Naporos said the authority would continue supporting the County in her regreening exercise through provision of seedlings.
Hillary Kosgei, a farmer from Endo thanked the County government for the seedlings.
Mark Chesergon, KVDA chair added that the authority would support several other interventions, which include food production and building peace efforts.
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