By Virginia Siebella
Young people across the country have been urged to take the lead in planting fruit trees in primary schools to improve children’s nutrition, boost immunity and promote environmental conservation.
Environmentalist and Rotary Club Machakos Town Chapter President Dennis Mutua said the initiative would provide learners with access to nutritious fruits while equipping them with practical knowledge on tree planting and environmental protection.
Mutua noted that schools could also generate income by selling surplus fruits, with the proceeds helping to support school feeding programmes and other educational needs.
He spoke after a joint visit with Community Change Advocates to Kwa Kitaa Primary School in Machakos Town, where he emphasized the importance of introducing pupils to tree planting and environmental stewardship at an early age.
According to Mutua, such programmes help nurture a generation of environmentally conscious citizens capable of addressing the effects of climate change, particularly in regions that experience inadequate rainfall.
“Teaching children how to plant and care for trees not only benefits the environment but also prepares them to become future champions of conservation,” he said.
Kwa Kitaa Primary School head teacher Thomas Mutunga welcomed the initiative, saying it had come at a critical moment as the school prepares to present its first Grade Nine learners for Junior Secondary examinations.
Mutunga said programmes that expose learners to practical skills and community initiatives were essential in helping them identify their career interests, including pathways in mathematics and sciences, social sciences and talent development.
Meanwhile, Rotary Club Athi Kapiti Chapter President said the programme would instill values of community service, responsibility and resilience among learners.
However, Sila raised concern over the challenges facing many schools, including inadequate access to digital learning tools such as computers, which he said were critical to the effective implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
