Chiefs ordered to plant trees in Tana River

Hola, Tuesday June 13, 2023

KNA by Simon Guruba

Tana River County Commissioner Mr. Omar Beja has called on all the 57 Chiefs in the County to plant each 3,000 trees per month in their locations.

Speaking to the press Tuesday from his Hola office Mr. Beja said the planting of trees per Chief is to respond to the President’s directive that Chiefs should plant trees in their locations as a good example to residents.

The County Commissioner also said, the tree planting programme will be included in the Chief’s performance contract.

He said Tana River County is covered by ‘Mathenge trees’ that are not productive and dangerous to human beings therefore, other trees should be planted to replace the Mathenge trees.

Contacted, Tana River County Forest Conservator Mr. Jaffer Galole said, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has no capacity of producing tree seedlings that would meet the needs of all chiefs in the County.

Mr. Galole said KFS does not have enough funds to raise tree seedlings for everybody in the area hence, urged the County Commissioner to request for a special fund from the government for the programme to succeed.

The Forest conservator also said Tana River County is experiencing severe water shortage for trees to survive saying, the county has experienced a long drought spell where rainfall fell 10 months.

“Planting trees is a welcome programme but survival of trees in Tana River County is a great challenge due to water shortage,” said Galole.

Courtesy ; K. N. A