First lady Margaret Kenyatta has joined Bidco Africa’s bid to grow more than 10,000 Bamboo seedlings at Ruiru Dam in Kiambu County.
The activity today was the third time the manufacturer is taking a bold step in increasing the forest cover and more so through planting and growing Bamboo seedlings, with the first two having been done at Ndakaini Dam in Murang’a County.
Launched in 2017 by the then Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forests Prof. Judy Wakhungu, the project dubbed ‘Save Our Water Towers’ aims to grow up to 1 Million Bamboo across Kenya’s most important water towers including the Mau Forest Complex, The Aberdares, The Charangani Hills and the Mt. Elgon.
The move to conserve the water towers comes in timely, at a time when, despite the rains, several estates in Nairobi and its environs still suffer from the challenges of water rationing in their households. The partnership with the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company makes a lot more sense as the initiative to address one of the city’s most important and vital needs; clean and sufficient water.
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Ruiru Dam was a good choice for the move as it supplies up to 30 % of the water consumed in Nairobi and its environs after Ndakaini Dam.
Speaking during the event, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta lauded the move as a noble one that will go a long way in addressing the challenges of the environment such as droughts and the irregular rainfall patterns.
She also noted that there are no fancy solutions for climate change; it is only through increasing the forest cover and taking from nature in a responsible and mindful way in terms of energy.
“I am particularly happy to see Bidco Africa take the lead in matters of environment and natural resources. To see one of the biggest industries in East Africa leading the initiative geared towards clean energy and a healthy environment is cause for great optimism and encouragement that perhaps it is possible to meet the sustainability challenges of our time and country if we all play part,” said Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta.
Bidco Africa Chairman Vimal Shah, reiterated the company’s stand on Sustainability. He noted that business can and should be a force for good; pointing out that it is the reason why the Triple Bottom Line is engraved in the DNA of all their operations.
“We are committed to reducing poverty, promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, ending hunger and improving food security, combating climate change, ensuring healthy living for all and all and ensuring responsible production and consumption. We are committed to these because they make us a better business and more importantly contribute to a future that we can be proud to pass onto the next generation,” said Vimal Shah.
Bidco Africa chose Bamboo seedlings as the perfect conservation agent since it is a clean source of renewable energy that is also good for the environment. Bamboo is also ideal for soil erosion control, rehabilitating the degraded soils and cleaning the air through carbon cycle.
The manufacturer brought together several partners to advance the project including Safaricom, SBM Bank, The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Fresha, Kenya Prisons, Mount Kenya University, WASPA and Greens of Africa Foundation.