The Kenya Airports Authority will plant trees in all its facilities to absorb carbon emissions from planes.
The authority has started by planting 600 acres of eucalyptus trees at Eldoret International Airport which will soak up about 1,000 tons of carbon emission per year.
Trees will also be planted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport and all other facilities in the country.
At JKIA, the authority will plant 700 acres, Nakuru (600 acres), Kitale (200 acres), Eldoret airstrip (200 acres) and Kakamega (50 acres).
Our sister paper, the Sunday Nation, reported exclusively that Kenya's Sh43 billion horticultural industry and its two million jobs were at risk due to carbon emission.
Water use
Though the report says the country produces 5.8 times lower emission than the Netherlands, western newspapers have painted a worrisome picture on the extent of water use by Kenyan flower firms.
The chairman of KAA, Mr Erastus Mwongera, said apart from absorbing carbon emission from planes the Eldoret project will generate about Sh288 million at the end of the seven to eight years maturity period.
Speaking at the airport while inaugurating a 150-ton warehouse, Mr Mwongera said the trees can run the airport for about six years.
He was with Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere, Permanent Secretary Gerishon Ikiara, KAA managing director George Muhoho, Defence assistant minister Stephen Tarus and Keiyo South MP Nicholas Biwott.
Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media. (allafrica.com)
