Vihiga County has planted 860,000 trees out of its target of 23 million in a span of ten years in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change.Speaking during the National Tree Planting Exercise in Kibiri Forest in Hamisi Sub County within Vihiga County, Principal Secretary State Department for Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi, asked residents of the Kaptis area neighbouring Kibiri Forest to nurture trees that have been planted.Mugambi cautioned residents against planting crops and grazing animals in the forest, saying that these activities interfered with the growth of trees in the forest. Instead, he urged them to plant more trees in a bid to conserve the environment.He added that Kibiri has ten rivers coming from it and flowing to the River Yala, and the scenery, if well maintained, can be a source of ecotourism.About 25 kilometres of Kibiri Forest have been fenced using an electric fence, cautioning residents against touching the fence.Vihiga County Commissioner, Felix Watakila called on residents to keep themselves busy by planting trees in Kibiri Forest and desisting from taking illicit brew and engaging in criminal activities.Watakila called on all national government administrative officers to ensure that they scrap illicit brews, drugs, and Lotto machines from Vhiga County which are affecting the lives of residents in a negative way.'I do not want to see any illicit brew dens, drugs, or Lotto machines in Vihiga County; I will deal mercilessly with the perpetrators,' warned Watakila.The CC called on all stakeholders to ensure a 100% transition in schools while urging parents and guardians to ensure all children go to school without discrimination.Source: Kenya News Agency