Four retirees from Kipevu Power Plant joined their colleagues and staff from the KenGen Foundation in a tree planting exercise to mark their last day at KenGen PLC on 8 November at Eng. Alfred Obiero’s Environment Corner within the station. The tree planting exercise was part of the KenGen Foundation’s Corporate Social Investment activities in-line with the Company’s Employee Giver Initiative objectives.

Ag. Regional Manager – Thermal Reuben Wekesa, and his counterpart Eng. Salim Omar plants a tree at Eng. Obiero’s corner.

Led by the Foundation’s Ag. Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha, and Ag. Regional Manager Reuben Wekesa – Thermal; North Konzi, Benson Musembi, John Mwanzia, and Peter Marube joined more than eighty Kipevu staff in planting 320 tree seedlings as a way of “greening” the power plant’s environment.

Ngong Hills Environmental Cleanup Kicks Off Giving Season

Speaking during the event, Eng. Wekesa encouraged Kipevu staff to continue planting trees as a way of mitigating the effects of adverse climate changes affecting the country. He appealed to the participants to uphold retired Eng. Alfred Obiero’s vision of greening Kipevu Power Plant and nurture the seedlings planted.

Echoing the manager’s sentiment, Anthony Igecha lauded the impressive turnout and was grateful that the Foundation was involved in the tree planting exercise.

“As a Foundation, we are proud to be associated with this activity as it aligns with our environment pillar and our flagship environmental program the Schools Green Initiative Challenge”, he said.

“As an organization, we hope that Kipevu will be involved in the program as we expand to schools in Kilifi, Kwale, and Mombasa counties”, he added.

Benson Musembi during the tree planting exercise. Benson has served KenGen for more than 20 years.

Benson Musembi retires from the Company’s Administration Department, while North Konzi worked in Finance. Both John Mwanzia and Peter Marube were in Operations.

During the luncheon held in their honor, the retirees thanked the Company for the opportunity and advised the rest to stay focused and committed in their work.

Business Value of KenGen’s CSI

Expressing sincere gratitude for their service, Salim Omar, Chief Engineer – Thermal, praised their commitment and dedication to KenGen and wished them the best in their sunset years. His counterpart Oswlad Ngeti -Union Representative praised the work ethics that saw them devote more than twenty years of service to the Company.

Organized by the KenGen Foundation, the Kipevu tree planting exercise follows an earlier environmental cleanup carried out at Ngong Hills Power Station. It is part of KenGen Employee Giver Initiative activities aimed at involving KenGen staff in the company’s CSI.

Similar activities will be rolled out at other KenGen regions over the next few weeks.

The KenGen Foundation wishes the retirees all the best in their future endeavors.

SCROLL THROUGH THE PICS TO SEE HOW THE TREE PLANTING EXERCISE HAPPENED

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The KenGen Foundation, in partnership with Better Globe Forestry and Bamburi Cement Ltd., recently conducted a workshop to review the progress of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge at various centers in Embu, Kitui and Machakos counties.

200 principals and ‘green’ teachers from the schools participating in the tree-planting competition attended the capacity building sessions held from September 26 – 28.

The Foundation’s Ag. Managing Trustee addressing the green teachers during the 3-day capacity building.

READ MORE: Surprise Win for GIC during KenGen’s 2018 G2G

Acting Managing Trustee, KenGen Foundation, Anthony Igecha lauded the schools for their progress in nurturing the tree seedlings and reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment and support in ensuring that Phase IV of the GIC is a success.

“Despite the severe environmental conditions in the three semi-arid counties, the Foundation and partners pledge to replace the lost seedlings distributed earlier”, he said.
“We hope that the schools’ administration and students involved in the project take good care of the seedlings. Head teachers should ensure that the woodlots are looked after even when the schools close for the December holidays”, he added.

Green teachers interact with the presenters during the 2nd GIC IV tree-planting workshop.

During the workshop, participants were taken through the benefits of planting Senna siamea, Terminalia brownii, and Melia volkensii, as a way of mitigating climate change, providing wood fuel, and alternative income opportunities in the timber industry.

The project’s Monitoring and Evaluation officers also advised the participants on how to identify and handle tree diseases. The KenGen Foundation team demonstrated to the participants the monetary value of planting the trees, while Better Globe Forestry encouraged the teachers to embrace the project in their individual households.

ALSO READ: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

In a separate presentation, the teachers were trained on how to use social media in communicating their progress and innovations with their peers and project partners. Teachers from the 3 counties set up WhatsApp groups to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information on the GIC.

A green teacher refers to the GIC Technical Manual, courtesy of project partners KenGen Foundation, Better Globe Forestry, and Bamburi Cement.

The GIC is a 10-year project funded by the partners at a cost of Ksh. 120 million and is an upscale of the successful Phase I pilot project that initially involved 81 schools within the counties of Embu and Machakos.

RELATED: GIC II Runners-Up Fun at Olkaria

The project is designed as a challenge to participating schools, mainly due to the dry weather conditions in the areas. Prizes are awarded based on the highest survival rate of seedlings and use of innovation in growing the trees.

Monitoring & Evaluation Officer January Muthoka takes the participants through the technicalities of nurturing the Mukau tree.

The GIC targets to reach 140,000 school children by 2018, with the schools being used as channels to reach out to the wider community members and encourage tree planting and nurturing.

SEE MORE HERE: [metaslider id=3837]

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

For Megawatt Café’s Head Chef, cooking is more than just a passion for culinary prowess. It’s a way of life and a chance to experiment with modern techniques and ingredients, traditional methods, and a bit of something personal.

Chef Anthony doing his thing at Megawatt Cafe.

Anthony Kiarie has been the Head Chef of Megawatt Café since it opened its doors to the public 1-year ago. The café, a social investment of the KenGen Foundation, initially started with ten staff and over the past twelve months, the team has grown to fifteen.

READ MORE: Team Building Retreat Cooks New Roadmap for Megawatt Cafe.

Anthony’s passion for fresh ingredients and culinary excellence are the cornerstones of Megawatt’s success. This is reflected in the café’s efforts in offering the best in-house and outside catering services for the Company and its staff.

Driven by an unyielding dedication to providing memorable experiences, Chef Anthony has been instrumental in expanding the café’s services to cater for personal and corporate events outside Stima Plaza. Bookings are made earlier to allow for planning and logistics.

I recently sat down briefly with Anthony (between his hectic daily schedule) to find out more about his passion AND THIS IS WHAT HE SHARED:

Ever since I was young, I have always had a passion for cooking. I’ve never really considered following another career path other than being a chef.

My career began in Nakuru where I was born. I attended Lake Nakuru Hotel and Tourism Management College (Egerton University) and during my free time, I cooked and served at social events such as weddings. Later, I eventually landed a part-time job as a commie at Summit Resort even as I continued with my studies.

Always ready to serve! Chef Anthony at Megawatt Cafe.

After graduation, I worked at Lake Nakuru Lodge at Lake Nakuru National Park as an Assistant Cook. I was lucky to be under the tutelage of a foreign trained Executive Chef. Following that, I moved to Nairobi and where I joined NAS Airport Services as a cook working at Simba Restaurant, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

ALSO READ: Megawatt Café First outing Leaves Olkaria Givers Craving for more.

I gained my first real experience at running a busy in-house restaurant at the Standard Group at the age of 26 where I was promoted from Assistant Head Cook to Senior Head Cook. I once featured in a T.V. advert in KTN’s Life & Style, but my biggest achievement at the time was featured on the weekly Radio Maisha cooking show Twende Jikoni, hosted by Ann Njogu between 12.00 p.m. and 12.30.p.m. every Friday. This really gave me the platform to showcase my skills and gain a few minutes of fame every week for close to six months.

Anyway, I’m glad to be at Megawatt Café. I guess it’s a privilege to be able to cater to the nutritional needs of the staff of the leading power generator in Kenya!

One of my favorite recipes for you to try at home is…

Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients

5 chicken breast halves, skinned boned and cut into 11/2 inch pieces

11/2 cups buttermilk

2 eggs beaten

11/2 cups all-purpose flour

11/4 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon dried whole thyme

¼ teaspoon paprika

Vegetable oil

Preparation

STEP 1

Place chicken pieces in mixing bowl. Combine buttermilk and eggs, and pour over chicken, cover and refrigerate for several hours

STEP 2

Combine flour, salt, pepper garlic powder, chili powder, thyme, and Spanish paprika in mixing bowl; stir well

Drain chicken and dredge each piece in flour mixture

STEP 3

Heat 1 inch of oil in a pan to until hot, add chicken in several batches and fry for 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning frequently. Drain well on a pepper towels

Serve spicy chicken nuggets with French fries (hot and sweet sauce).

Bon appetite!

So what is the secret to really great food, I ask?

“The chef must know the tradition and history of the food he’s working with. There are so many ways to combine ingredients for different reactions to the taste buds, and also personal preferences…”, says Anthony.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The Technical Committee of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge is glad to announce the appointment of Samuel Kariuki as the new Monitoring and Evaluation Officers for Phase IV of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge. He joins Daniel Ndolo and January Muthoka from Better Globe Forestry at Eastern Hydros.

READ MORE: New M&E Officers for Phase IV of Schools Tree-planting Competition

Samuel, who started planting Mangifera indica at his uncle’s farm at age of 11 years, was an attachee at KenGen’s Gitaru before joining Better Globe Forestry. Samuel holds BSc.in Environmental Science from Chuka University, and is a qualified Natural Resource Management specialist, registered at NEMA as an associate lead expert in environmental assessment and audit.

Samuel Kariuki (far R) with colleagues January Muthoka and Daniel Ndolo at KenGen Kipevu Power Station.

Samuel will play a crucial role in monitoring the success of Phase IV of the GIC project, a unique partnership between the champions of dry-land forestry – Better Globe Forestry; the experts of habitat restoration – Bamburi Cement Ltd; Africa’s biggest geothermal energy producer – KenGen; and the KenGen Foundation.

The project, designed as a competition between participating schools, aims at greening over 500 acres of the semi-arid counties of Embu, Meru, and Machakos with drought-resistant Terminalia brownie, Senna siamea and Melia volkensi tree species.

ALSO READ: Schools Green Initiative Challenge Welcomes 100 New Schools as Phase II Winners Recognized.

The project is gearing for the next teachers’ capacity building workshop for the current100 schools in Phase IV that are competing for the top prize in Phase IV of the afforestation competition. The winning school stands to win a fully paid trip to Mombasa, scholarships, and water tanks among others, based on the tree seedlings survival rates and innovations.

The new M&E officer is also charged with seedlings distribution, replacement, and keeping track of the project’s development within the 100 new schools participating on Phase IV.

Karibu Samuel!

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The persistent heat and dry air of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary welcomed the KenGen Foundation team on 4^th September during day one of a four-day team-building excursion. Checking in at the Sarova Salt Lick Lodge, we eagerly receive glasses of chilled juices to quench our thirsts. Immediately, our attention is drawn to the herds of animals lazing around the nearby waterhole. Several zebras, buffalo, gazelles, and antelopes have strings of water dripping from their snouts, each facing a different direction as if anticipating a lion attack (we hoped!). Thrilled, we head for a much-needed siesta.

Later in the evening, we were rested enough to marvel at our surroundings during the 2-hour game drive. Herds of elephants, eland antelopes, and impalas fascinate us, with a few giraffes and ostriches capping the day. Still no lions! But at least, we got to enjoy a specular view of the fiery orange sun setting in the evening. The sanctuary is located in the vicinity of a World War I battle between the British and the German’s from neighboring Tanganyika, our driver-guide informs us.

READ MORE: Surprise Win for GIC during KenGen’s 2018 G2G

After an early morning game drive around the sanctuary on day 2, the team settles down for business and we set the ground rules. The Acting Managing Trustee took us through the Foundation’s Strategic Plan and set the theme and agenda for the team building.

The team went ahead to explore various strategies of sustainably expanding the Foundation’s CSI projects, and streamlining its operations and engagements with stakeholders for greater impacts. After a brief question – and – answer session, and goal setting concludes the first part of the team building.

ALSO READ: Corporate Partnerships Best for Implementing CSI Activities

In the afternoon, we split into two teams for some grueling tasks aimed at building communication and teamwork. The Foundation ladies prove to be quite resilient, more often than not outperforming their male counterparts!

The next day we leave Taita Hills and take the SGR to Mombasa for Phase II of the team building. In the evening, we go out to dinner at the Tamarind Dhow, a traditional Arabic trading sailboat converted into a floating restaurant.

MORE ABOUT: Business Value of KenGen’s CSI

Measuring 23 by 8 meters with a 14-meter mast, the dhow is decked with an assortment of sizzling seafood and nyamachoma. The huge boat took us around the channel under a semi-clear grey sky, with the captain Omar allowing some of us to try our hands in steering the craft. A truly humbling experience.

Day 3 found us at Wild Waters for the last round of physical activities. After a brief stretching session the team splits (yet again) into two and challenge each other on several activities. We wind up the day with a surprise birthday cake for our Admin. Officer Lydia Mbaka!

The invigorated Foundation’s staff returned to Nairobi with fond memories of the retreat and better understanding of each other.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

By recording 77% survival rates after 2 years of joining Phase II of the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge, Mashamba Primary School got a chance to visit Olkaria geothermal power plant on 16 August.

Peter Karuria, Olkaria’s safety officer engages the students during the tour.                  Pic.|E. Nyamasyo

This was part of their reward for emerging position 2 in the tree growing competition implemented by KenGen Foundation in partnership with Bamburi Cement and Better Globe Forestry.

Accompanied by the Embu CSO David Kithaka, their head teacher John Muringo,

and green teachers Josphat Kyule and Martha Mwangangi, the students and were all eager to catch every word from Peter Karuria, Olkaria’s safety officer, amid the din from the power house, as he explained the process of geothermal power production. This was the group’s first visit to a KenGen power plant.

Enjoying the warm waters of Olkaria Spa.

READ MORE: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

Mashamba Primary School is one in 120 schools that participated in Phase II of the GIC from 2016 – 2018. Located in Embu County, one of the driest areas in the country, the schools employed several innovative tree nursery management techniques to ensure the seedlings survival. Apart from mulching and drip irrigation, the students also adopted individual trees and nurtured them to maturity.

After lunch, the students couldn’t wait to take a dip in the spa, surprised at the warmth of the water, their excited laughter echoing across the pool.

 

On a game drive at Hell’s Gate National Park thereafter, the GIC champions marvelled at herds of buffalo and zebra, and found the warthog quite a comical creature that they couldn’t stop talking about!

Early morning camp breakfast at Fisherman’s Camp, Naivasha

Apart from educational trips, the GIC rewards for the top three performing schools also include scholarships, water tanks, gift vouchers and certificates. The GIC is unique in that it incentivizes young minds to be proactive in environmental conservation through tree planting. The project also incorporates the setting up of communal woodlots through a Farmer’s Outreach program, managed by project partner Better Globe Forestry.

The students spent the night camping at Fisherman’s Camp, a first time experience for all of them including the teachers that will forever remain etched in their memories.

Check out the slideshow for more pics.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The dimly lit tunnel leading into Gitaru Power Plant was eerily silent as 30 students from Tulimyumbu Primary School, Machakos, and their ‘green’ teachers, descended towards the powerhouse.

READ MORE: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

Hushed whispers and fast shuffling shoes followed the station’s tour guide as he led the 3^rd runners up of Phase II of the schools tree planting competition, the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge (GIC) on their award trip on 14 August.

 

Even as the turbines rumbled and tried to drown out the guide’s voice, the students’ and teacher’s curiosity was evident as they stared at the huge machines, occasionally asking a question or two before scribbling in their notebooks.

ALSO READ: GIC II Runners Up Fun at Olkaria

Tulimyumbu Primary School registered the third highest tree seedlings survival rates in Phase II of the tree planting competition, which concluded earlier in the year, beating 117 other schools to be awarded with a 10,000 liter water, a trip to Gitaru

Power Plant, cash prize and certificates. The KenGen Foundation, in partnership with Bamburi Cement ltd., and better Globe Forestry is the lead implementer of the 10-year school-based afforestation project.

With the relief of finally being above ground, the student took a brief excursion to Gitaru dam, where the guide Edwin Ndegwa, an engineering student from Mt. Kenya University, explained the mechanics of operating and managing a hydro-electric dam, before they visited the station’s tree nursery, where they had received their initial 300 seedlings for the competition.

As part of the company’s environmental policy, KenGen distributes tree seedlings to communities around its power plants to help conserve the environment, and the students were urged to continue planting trees even outside the GIC by visiting Gitaru and asking for seedlings.

Currently involving more than 300 schools at Embu, Kitui, and Machakos counties, the GIC is a 10-year afforestation project modeled as a competition between participating schools in 2-year phases. Due to the extreme arid weather in the project area, the GIC is dubbed as a challenge as the schools also compete in employing tree-growing innovations such as mulching and drip irrigation to earn more points against their competitors.

 

After a sumptuous lunch at Matendeni Senior Staff club, the students couldn’t wait to jump into the swimming pool for the rest of the afternoon.

“I can’t thank the KenGen Foundation and the Green Initiative Challenge project partners for making our day”, said the school’s headmaster Mr. Charles at the end of the day. “Tulimyumbu Primary School has something to smile about as we head home from this trip”.

Check out the slideshow for more..

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

Global corporate philanthropy has reinvented itself in recent years following the unveiling of the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. The practice of giving out one-off cheques to address social issues is slowly fading out, as strategic partnerships take over in order to meet diverse social-economic challenges while at the same time ensuring sustainable business operations.

Finding the right partner, especially in the execution of Corporate Social Investment activities is crucial to the success of securing the social license for businesses operating in a particular area. When a businesses CSI activities mirrors or complements another, then there are opportunities for convergence in execution.

Bamburi Cement Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development Director Susan Maingi, former KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee Mike Njeru and Better Globe Forestry Managing Director Jean-Paul Deprins at Thua Primary School, Kitui.

During the recent KenGen’s G2G annual energy and innovation conference, whose theme was “Fostering Partnerships for Infrastructure and Industrialization” a unique CSI partnership went on to win in the exhibitions category.

READ MORE:Surprise Win for GIC during KenGen’s 2018 G2G

The Schools Green Initiative Challenge (GIC), KenGen Foundation’s flagship environment program, showcased how the power of collaboration can be successful in addressing climate change and poverty alleviation with multiple benefits.

The GIC is a unique partnership between KenGen Foundation, KenGen, Better Globe Forestry Limited, and Bamburi Cement. The project’s main objective is the greening of over 460 acres in the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui and Machakos with Mukau (M. Volkensii) and Muveshi (S. Siamea) tree species as a way of mitigating climate change, providing wood fuel, and alternative income opportunities for the local communities. The project concentrates on utilizing school communities to develop woodlots and small forests with the school compounds

The GIC involves schools nurturing the drought resistant trees to maturity, with the best performing schools benefiting in attractive awards including education scholarships, school trips, infrastructural developments, and cash awards. Currently, there are 400 schools from the three counties involved in the project since inception in 2013.

Better Globe Forestry, a Norwegian afforestation company that focuses on poverty reduction through massive tree-planting and sustainable agricultural programs, microfinance schemes, educational programs and water supply for rural communities offers technical support and provides the tree seedlings for the program. Bamburi Cement Ltd, undoubtedly one the biggest names in corporate conversation and a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, the world leader in building materials, equips the GIC schools with operational, infrastructural support and education scholarships.

Environmental club patrons, dubbed “Green teachers”, are also involved in the competition. Apart from undergoing trainings in tree and nursery management, innovative teachers are rewarded and recognized in their own right.

The afforestation competition is in line with the Government of Kenya’s Vision 2030 to achieve 10% forest cover across the country, and also aims to raise the awareness and participation of school children in environmental conservation activities. It also aligns itself with the Big Four agenda as the project touches on the production and sale of housing and manufacturing materials, and fruit trees as alternative sources of nutrition for the schools.

Thua Primary School pupils plant trees at Haller Park, Mombasa. The school won Phase II of the GIC to be awarded with an educational trip at the coastal city.

Through the setting up of woodlots in participating schools, the GIC partnership acts as a change agent within the communities to establish a tree-planting culture for multiple benefits in dry-land areas. The sustainable management of tree nurseries and woodlots provides the participating schools and surrounding communities with a renewable source of wood fuel and commercial trees for commercial benefits.

ALSO READ: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

It is the clear purpose and convergence of interest which has enabled the four organizations, KenGen Foundation, KenGen, Bamburi Cement and Better Globe Forestry engage in a highly successful partnership worthy of a study case for other corporates looking forward to engage in a worthy partnership for the social good.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

An evening swim in the Indian Ocean was the crowning moment for thirty students of Thua Primary School, Kitui, during their tour of Mombasa City, June 12 – 15. This was part of their reward for clinching first position in Phase II of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge, which concluded in February 2018.

Two days earlier, the students and their teachers experienced Madaraka Express, the country’s new railway line, when they travelled from Nairobi to Mombasa, having arrived in the city from Kitui by bus.

Thua Primary School students experience Madaraka Express, popularly known as the SGR, during their Mombasa educational trip.

The students, who spent their first day’s morning on a tour of KenGen’s Kipevu Power, managed to beat 119 other schools from the semi-arid counties of Embu, Machakos, and Kitui in a two-year tree planting competition at their 0.5 acre plots for survival rates. Participating schools were given 300 seedlings to compete with their counter parts in nurturing them using different approaches and innovations.

READ MORE: Schools Green Initiative Challenge Welcomes 100 New Schools as Phase II Winners Recognized.

Thua Primary School students tour KenGen’s Kipevu Power Station during their educational tour in Mombasa.

In the afternoon, the students visited Haller Park, Bamburi Cement Ltd.’s rehabilitated quarry, and now a successful model of sustainable environmental management. Learning more about the various plant and animal species, the students also had a chance to explore the Butterfly House and marvel at the ferocity of the resident crocodiles during a feeding session!

GIC II winners, Thua Primary School explore the biodiversity rich Haller Park, a rehabilitated quarry and model of sound environmental management.

Thua Primary School is part of an exciting 10-year afforestation project implemented by the KenGen Foundation in partnership with Better Globe Forestry and Bamburi Cement Ltd. Starting with an initial 81 schools in 2013, the GIC aims to green over 500 acres within schools in Embu, Kitui, and Machakos with Senna siamea, Melia volkensii, Terminalia brownii, paw-paw and yellow passion as way of mitigating climate change and providing multiple benefits.

ALSO READ: 1st Capacity Building Workshop Sets Agenda for GIC Phase IV.

Currently with more than 400 schools involved, the GIC is in Phase IV and has so far incorporated ‘Green Teachers’ – schools environmental patrons; capacity building sessions for the green teachers and head masters; monitoring and evaluation exercises; and exciting prizes for the top three winning schools.

The ultimate goal of the GIC is to raise the awareness and participation of school children in environmental conservation and ultimately increase the country’s forest cover from the current 7% to the 15% recommended by UNEP.

A tour of Mombasa is incomplete without a visit to Fort Jesus!

The next day, the students visited Fort Jesus, Mombasa’s iconic landmark, and were fascinated by the rich history of the ancient Arab – Portuguese war. They attentively listened (and sometimes scribbled in their notebooks) to the local tour guide, who took his time explaining the intriguing historical journey within the massive and crumbling walls.

In the afternoon, they explored Bamburi Nature Trail, taking advantage of a playing ground to indulge in fun and games before planting local tree seedlings at a secluded site aptly named Thua!

As they leave the beach later in the evening, the students are tired, but elated.
But most importantly, the trip has lit a spark in their hearts. Planting trees really pays!

SCROLL PHOTOS BELOW!

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Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The road leading to Mashamba Primary School, Embu County, can best be described as a cattle track. The surrounding environment appears barren, devoid of any vegetation.

Under the scorching sun, sparsely scattered lone trees, stripped off their greenery, and covered with the area’s red soil, paint a picture of desperation. Cattle and donkeys with empty containers on their backs lead their masters in search of water.

But Mashamba Primary School is different. The school’s compound is in stuck contrast with the surrounding environment.

Mashamba Primary School Green Teacher Paul Kiilu showcases the school’s woodlot during the launch of Phase IV of the GIC.

Boasting of a healthy 0.5 acre woodlot, the school was also the location of the launch of Phase IV of the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge (GIC) on 28 February.

100 new schools joined the tree planting competition, KenGen Foundation’s flagship environment project, during the colorful event that also saw winners of Phase II of the GIC awarded prizes after two years of intense tree growing, despite the harsh climatic conditions.

READ MORE: KenGen Scoops Best Corporate (State Agency) Tree Growing And Forest Conservation Award

Speaking during the event, out going KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee Mike Njeru welcomed the new schools to the afforestation project, and lauded the winners of Phase II while encouraging them “to continue with the innovative measures you [sic] adopted over the last three years to maintain the beautiful woodlots that you now have”.

Outgoing Managing Trustee Mike Njeru urges the participating schools to continue in nurturing their woodlots even after the GIC competition ends.

Thua Primary School led the pack of 120 school involved in Phase II of the competition to emerge the winner with a score of 84%, while the host, Mashamba Primary School, followed with a score of 77%. Tulimyumbu Primary School, from Machakos County clinched the third position with a mean score of 75%.

The KenGen Foundation, in partnership with the champion of dry land forestry Better Globe Forestry, and leader of habitat restoration Bamburi Cement Ltd., implements the tree planting competition within targeted schools at the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui, and Machakos.

ALSO READ: 1st Capacity Building Workshop Sets Agenda for GIC Phase IV

Designed as a challenge due to the harsh climatic conditions, schools are awarded point for the seedlings survival rates at the end of a two-year period. Other factors include innovations such as individual tree adoptions by students and teachers; mulching; fencing; and drip irrigation among others.

Present at the event was KenGen’s Operation’s Director Eng. Solomon Kariuki who reiterated the Company’s continued investment “in long-term sustainable environmental conservation programs with GIC targeting schools and their surrounding communities”.

“It is worth to note that this unique program encourages environmental consciousness and conservation awareness among school children right from an early age to encourage and sustain their enthusiasm in caring for their environment as they grow to adulthood”, he added.

Eng. Solomon Kariuki, KenGen’s Operations Director, plants a tree at Mashamba Primary School to commemorate the event.

Since inception in 2015 with an initial 81 schools from Embu and Machakos, the GIC has grown to involve more than 300 schools inclusive of Kitui County. The afforestation project targets the greening of over 500 acres of semi-arid land as a way of mitigating climate change and providing wood fuel and alternative income opportunities for the local communities.

Susan Maingi, Bamburi Cement Ltd. Director, Corporate Affairs, Communications & Sustainable Development said “Bamburi is proud to be playing its role in environmental conservation and restoration, and mitigating the impacts of climate change through the GIC partnership”.

“As we launch Phase IV today, we remain committed to working with the communities through such collaborations with like-minded organizations, to jointly reverse the climate change effects in arid and semi-arid Areas in Kenya”, she added.

Jan Vandenabeele, Executive Director Better Globe Forestry said: “We wish to encourage all those involved in the GIC to adapt their individual successes at their homesteads, as environmental conservation requires our collective efforts. We are proud of the winners and welcome the new schools into this noble initiative”.

The Schools Green Initiative Challenge incorporates three of the 17 recently unveiled UN Sustainable Development Goals namely Quality Education, Climate Change, Clean Water & Sanitation. Best performing schools stand a chance of winning education trips, scholarships, water tanks, infrastructure development, cash prizes among others.

Susan Maingi, Bamburi Cement Ltd. Director, Corporate Affairs, Communications & Sustainable Development, presents Thua Primary School with the winner’s cheque during the event.

Speaking during the event, KenGen’s Director Dr. Musa Arusei noted that it was “commendable that thousands of school going children are learning valuable skills of planting and nurturing trees, which they will spread to their homes and communities”.

“It is with this in mind that the company continues to invest in long-term social investment programs such as the GIC, which is dedicated to environmental conservation by promoting a tree planting culture with particular emphasis to the school children, who are indeed the best transformational agents for a better environment”, he added.

MORE ON THIS: New M&E Officers for Phase IV of Schools Tree-planting Competition 

Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta recognized KenGen as the Best Corporate category during the inaugural Tree Growing and Forest Conservation Awards 2017, with the GIC project contributing enormously to this award.

The GIC is set to expand to other counties where KenGen has operations, with tree planting activities planned for Western Hydros, Olkaria, Mombasa and Turkana Counties.

Currently, tree seedlings are being distributed to the new schools in order to take advantage of the ongoing rains.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer