Gold medalist in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia Wycliffe Kinyamal; has stunned many Kenyans with his first undertaking after his astounding victory.
Kinyamal who bagged Kenya’s first gold medal in the 800M race, embarked on tree planting at Karura Forest where he has been training.
“2018, 800M Gold Medalist Wycliffe Kinyamal, first order of business upon return to KE was tree planting at Karura Forest where the champion trains,” the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) said in a tweet Tuesday.
KFS, constitutionally mandated with taking care of Kenya’s forests, added that Kinyamal has pledged to rally other athletes to join his tree planting course.
“Wycliffe Kinyamal pledges to rally other athletes to plant and nurture trees.”
Kinyamal said he values the importance of conserving forests which is why he decided to plant trees in Karura Forest where trained before leaving for Australia.
KFS acting CCF Monica Kalenda, urged members of the public to embrace forests as a symbol of national cohesion, as she welcomed the Commonwealth 800M champion to Karura once again.
Since February when government imposed a three-month logging ban to allow for an audit of Kenya’s forest cover, various quarters have hearkened to the call of tree planting.
Conservationist said that excessive logging has affected the country’s water towers and have largely contributed to prolonged seasons of drought.
Since the ban took effect, there has been a wide campaign driven by organizations, conservationists and leaders to encourage tree planting across the country.