Seedlings are being moved to the site, says official on the ground

Preparations were in top gear on Wednesday for the high profile tree planting ceremony at Kiptunga area of the Mau Complex.

The head of the Mau conservancy at the Kenya Forest Services, Mr Cosmas Ikiugu, told the Nation that meetings had been held with senior provincial administrators to prepare for the ceremony. “As we speak now the district forest officer is moving the seedlings to the site, everything is on course,” said Mr Ikiugu.

He added that they were expecting President Kibaki to participate. “As far as we are concerned everything is as it had earlier been planned. We have no information to the contrary,” he said.

Mr Francis Nkako, a member of the Mau Restoration Interim Secretariat, also said the there was no going back on the tree planting.

“If you want to know the politics call the offices of the Prime Minister or the office of the President, but all I can tell you is that we are concerned with conservation issues and I can assure you the ceremony will go on as planned,” Mr Nkako said on the phone.

Mr Alex Lemarkoko, the deputy commandant in charge of enforcement at KFS said: “The site we have chosen is symbolic because it is the source of three rivers: the Molo, Mara and Rongai. We are looking forward to the ceremony,” he said. Narok county council councillors led by Mr Solomon Moriaso were ready.