CS Tuya: We aim to grow 100 million trees on Monday

By Peter Ochieng 

All is but set for the national tree growing day cum holiday, on Monday 13th November, 2023.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry under Cabinet Secretary (CS) Roselinda Soipan Tuya on Friday released a list of designated areas, where the exercise will take place in all 47 counties.

President William Ruto will preside over the national tree growing exercise at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County, while CSs and governors will be in charge of similar exercises in counties. According to CS Tuya, the aim is to grow 100 million trees on Monday, and a total of 500 million during the ongoing short rain season.

The CS called on Kenyans to grow at least two seedlings on Monday. “I know being a public a holiday, many of us will take advantage of the break to attend to other private and social obligations, but for the sake of the wellbeing of our environment and for mother nature, and as a call to national duty, I urge all of us to honour the national tree growing day. If each of us planted at least two seedlings on Monday, we will instantly hit the campaign target for the day of 100 million tree seedlings,” she said in a statement.

It will be a busy day for Cabinet Secretaries, as they will preside of the exercise in more than one county. Here is a breakdown of how the day will pan out for them:

Similarly, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Interior Raymond Omollo urged members of the public to visit offices of their nearest Chiefs for tree seedlings.

“At County level, tree growing activities will be championed by Cabinet Secretaries in at least two counties, hosted by respective Governors and supported by Principal Secretaries, County Commissioners, and other Senior Government/State officials,” he stated.

The government seeks to grow 15 billion trees in the next 10 years.