Kenya will suffer deforestation

Kenya will suffer because of deforestation,
says don

Updated on: Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Story by: Meeme Joshua and Grany Otieno

University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor George Magoha has warned of serious climatic effects emanating from depletion of forest cover as more Kenyans turn to firewood for energy. Magoha said land under forest cover has continued to decrease drastically and today stands at 1.1 percent against the required international standards of 10 percent. “It is the time to sensitize people to plant more trees, increase area under forest cover and embrace other renewable sources of energy,” said Magoha.
Magoha, who spoke after presiding over the first graduation ceremony for students who completed a certificate course in Renewable Energy at the Institute of Nuclear Science, said renewable energy technologies are necessary due to unsustainable manner in the conventional supply of energy and its harmful effect on the environment.“The integration of renewable energy systems into the electricity supply networks together with the development of autonomous renewable energy systems for electricity supply poses new challenges to a developing country such as Kenya,” said Magoha.
He said the country should focus on renewable energy through training of experts, adding that the university was setting pace for change of attitude and lifestyles for those living in rural areas. “Rivers are drying up due to the continued felling of trees and unless the trend is reversed the country will not achieve development goals,” he said. He challenged the graduands to move into rural areas and teach people on new ways of generating energy.