By Dickens Wasonga.
A tradition which would stand the test of time of taking good care and keeping the environment clean began in the early years when the now Maseno University was a teacher training college and a government training Institute.
Those who started the institution in those early stages realised one fundamental need- the need to preserve the natural resources which was crucial for the well being of the society we live in.
Today the University which was declared the 6th fully fledged public University after Moi University has continued with good tradition and the community living around this institution are benefiting in a big way.
Maseno which is one of the greenest Universities in the world now has a well stocked tree nursery which it uses to enhance forest cover.
Tree planting programmes initiated through the University is currently under implementation in several nearby villages.
Several schools, both secondary and primary have in the past received seedlings to implement tree planting programs.Most schools which were hitherto prone to destruction due to wind storms are now free from such disasters, thanks to this program.
The University situated about 30 km from Kisumu city was named after a tree scientifically known as Cordia Ovatlis. The tree is also known as ”Oseno” in Luo and ”Oluseno” in Luhia.
Recently the institution donated 100 tree seedlings to the newly created Kisumu west district which were planted at its headquarters in Holo.
Due to its firm commitment in ensuring the environment around where it is situated is improved and better managed, the University has bagged several awards to it name.
In 2006, Maseno won the Total Eco-Challenge award given to the best institution who have demonstrated exemplary performance in tree planting programs and who better manage their environments and that of communities around them.
The University also boasts of a strong team of students who take active part in environmental conservation. Apart from donating environment friendly dustbins to the University compound, the students have also distributed several dust bins to a number of institutions around the campus.
One such institution which recently benefited from this noble gesture from the students of Maseno is the local law courts.
Seven years ago,a school of Environment and Earth Sciences was established at the university and 140 students have graduated since then.
The University managers said those who graduate from the faculty will form an important workforce that is not only skilled but better prepared to handle environmental challenges like climatic change facing the country and the world at large.
”These students will be more conscious of natural resources such as rock formations,types of plants and how sustainable methods of managing the environment can be archieved”.
The school has also introduced modern and sustainable methods of solid waste management and disposal without any further destruction of the forest cover.
ENDS.