CS Tuya reveals number of trees planted on Monday

Peter Ochieng

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Roselinda Soipan Tuya has thanked Kenyans for braving wet and cold conditions to come out and plant trees on Monday.

Monday, 13th November 2023 was declared a national tree growing holiday, to give Kenyans an opportunity to plant and grow trees as the government targets the 15 billion milestone by 2032.

The CS in a statement encouraged Kenyans to continue growing trees, so as to reach the target of Sh500 million by Christmas.

“As a Ministry, we're deeply grateful to every mwananchi that heeded the government's call to grow trees on the 'Green Holiday', and encourage everyone to continue growing trees, especially during the ongoing short rains season to enable the country to meet her 500 million seedlings target by Christmas,” she said.

The plan was to grow at least 100 million trees across the Country on Monday. The CS said the target was surpassed.

“Countrywide returns we continue to receive indicate that we surpassed the 100 million target for the day, with Jaza Miti App indicating close to 7,000 new entries. We encourage those who grew trees yesterday but didn't record on Jaza Miti to do so, so as to enable us to keep track of the activity.”

The national event was presided over by President William Ruto in Makueni County. CS Tuya said the day was a success because of the goodwill and support of the country’s top leadership.

“We're particularly grateful to our country's top leadership led by H.E President Dr William Ruto and H.E Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and their Spouses, for leading the national tree growing activity at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County where we surpassed the 100,000 seedlings target, as well as Cabinet Secretaries, Governors, Principal Secretaries, Regional/County Commissioners, MPs, MCAs, and all State officials who led concurrent tree growing activities in Counties, Sub-Counties and Ward levels across the country, in a 'whole-Government, whole-of-society' show of solidarity.”

In Kisumu County, County Commissioner Hussein Alasow Hussein said a total of 94,000 trees were planted.