Coca Cola seeks to plant 90,000 trees in Mt Kenya’s environs

NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 23 – Coca-Cola Beverages Africa–Kenya (CCBA-K), is set to plant 90,000 tree seedlings in Mt Kenya’s Hombe forest, in an effort to preserve the country’s catchment areas

The project, done in conjunction with Nature Kenya, is set to take place within a 3 year period and done in two phases.

According to Coca Cola’s Public Affairs and Communications Director, Susan Maingi, phase 1 of the restoration project was already completed, with 15 000 seedlings already planted in the region.

The Hombe restoration site, she said, included a swamp on the verge of drying up and the newly planted trees are expected to resuscitate the wetland as they mature.

She further noted that Mt. Kenya was the most productive basin for agriculture in Kenya and supplied 95 percent of Nairobi’s water and therefore the preservation of its catchment area was to be a priority for every Kenyan.

“We will maintain Coca-Cola’s global metric of 100 percent water replenishment, focusing on improving watershed health in water-stressed areas that are critical to our business, our communities and our agricultural supply chain. We are continually assessing our priority watersheds and engaging local stakeholders to devise integrated and holistic plans for collective action,” Maingi said.

The chairperson of the Hombe Community Forest Association (CFA), Wilson Thige, expressed his optimism with the restoration project, citing that it would help the residents of the area gain money through the selling of seedings.

“I am grateful to the management of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa-Kenya and Nature Kenya for their support towards restoration of our forest. I appeal to others to also join us in making Hombe and the larger Mt. Kenya forest regain its original state,” Thige added.

Mt Kenya forest is home to rich flora and fauna. Among the species it hosts is the critically endangered Mountain Bongo and Kenya Jewel Damselfly, and the vulnerable Abbott’s Starling.