Members of public urged to embrace tree planting to combat effects of climate change

Nov 15, 2023 - 00:11

Residents of Uasin Gishu turned out in high numbers to participate in the National Tree Growing Exercise at Kaimur Wetland, Timboroa, Kesses Sub County, Uasin Gishu County. The event was done across the county up to the ward level, in which 1,376,660 tree seedlings of both indigenous and exotic tree species were grown.

Nairobi,

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

KNA by KNA Team round up

As various leaders among them Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries led residents in tree planting drives the clarion call was on conservation and management of environment to mitigate effects of climate change.

Speaking when he led tree planting campaign at Kodiaga prison in Kisumu Cabinet Secretary for public service Moses Kuria called on all the public servants to rally towards the government tree planting agenda reiterating that the government is committed towards ensuring that 15 billion trees drive is realized.

“We are responsible for something called performance contracting and delivery management hence the target that has been assigned to every department and every ministry come directly under the purview of my ministry and we are going to do everything to ensure that everybody and every state department and every public officer honor this commitment,” the CS said

Kuria rallied all Kenyans to get committed to the tree planting call saying conserving the environment is the key to protecting lives and the future of the coming generations.

“Kenyans must wake up to the realization that there is no other world but this and the environment is the blanket that will protect all of us hence we must all come together to ensure that we do what we must do to wrap this environmental conservation agenda,” noted Kuria.

In Uasin Gishu the exercise which was carried out successfully in various identified sites across the county kicked off concurrently with residents with the help of various stakeholders like Kenya Forest Service KFS, National Youth Service (NYS) Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), KEPHIS, Kenya Prisons, local political leaders among others who provided tree seedlings, managed to plant a total of 1,376,660 tree seedling both indigenous and exotic tree species.

Initially the county had set a target of a million seedlings to be planted on Monday November 13 and by Sunday had received a total of 976,660 seedlings from various stakeholders including county government and other government agencies.

In her speech at Kaimur Wetland in Timboroa forest, Kesses Sub County, where 45,000 indigenous and exotic trees were planted, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Madam Susan Mang’eni called on residents and other partner to embrace and invest in tree growing noting that trees are an easy way of earning income without much struggle.

She urged parents to include their children in tree growing as a way of conserving the environment so that the children may grow up with the knowledge that trees are key components in preserving and protecting the environment.

The PS reiterated the need to sensitize and educate the members of the communities living in forest areas on the best way to live with the trees through taking care, protecting and conserving trees.

Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Chelilim affirmed his administration’s commitment to work closely with the national government to make sure the presidential directive of planting 15 billion trees is realized.

In Kirinyaga, Governor Ann Waiguru joined other Kenyans on a tree planting exercise in the company of Joseph Busiega, Chief of Staff, Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Kirinyaga County Commissioner, Nayioma Tobiko, and Kenya Seed Company Limited Board Chair Wangui Ngirici, among other county leaders.

Speaking when she presided over a tree planting exercise at Thiba Dam to mark National Tree Growing Day, Governor Anne Waiguru said that the county aims to achieve its goal by the end of her tenure by planting at least 1.5 million trees annually. Kirinyaga County will plant and grow least six million trees in five years as part of the 15 billion trees initiative.

She noted that the county has in the past year planted 1.3 million trees, and 19,000 trees have been planted today through the National Growing Day initiative.

Waiguru termed the tree planting exercise a noble and well-thought-out initiative that would lead to an increase in the country's tree cover.

In Moyale, Deputy County Commissioner, Benedict Munywoki called on all residents of Moyale Sub-County to plant more trees as a way of mitigating the effects of climate change.

The DCC appealed to the local leaders to engage more in tree planting exercises, adding that such activities also serve to raise awareness to the communities living within the Sub-County on the importance of planting and saving trees

Rachuonyo east sub county Deputy county commissioner (DCC) Job Kemey distributed 300 seedlings to residents of Kawour location in God Kamondi dispensary.

The DCC who led residents in planting 105 trees in the dispensary asked the residents to continue planting more trees as the Sub County is still lagging behind in terms of forest cover.

The DCC said they targeted to plant 20,000 trees with each location having to grow 2222 trees.

Courtesy; KNA