As the climate change crisis incessantly keeps causing havoc for various sectors of humanity, and wildlife lives causing calamities and chaos, President Ruto assured during Jamhuri Day that trees will immensely be planted.
Rift Valley regional commissioner Maalim Mohamed said that a total of 3.5 million tree seedlings are expected to be planted in each location in the Rift Valley region every month in line with President William Ruto’s directive of planting trees across the country as a mitigation measure against climate change.
The President launching the national tree planting day on December 12th revealed a target of 15 billion trees to be planted to increase forest cover from 12 percent to 30 percent by 2030.
The Rift Valley has an average of around 14.6 percent forest cover with Elgeyo Marakwet leading with 37 percent and Turkana lagging behind at 4.06 percent.
Baringo has 25 percent forest cover, Nakuru (9.2), West Pokot (8.3) Narok (16.6), Nandi (16.8), Trans Nzoia (16.1 ), Kajiado (7.1), Kericho (23.5), Bomet (12.7), Uasin Gishu (7.5), Samburu (12.8) and Laikipia 6.7 percent.
Maalim during the launch of the regional coordination committee on the national tree growing and restoration campaign in Nakuru urged for different stakeholders such as commerce, education, the matatu, and boda boda sector, religious leaders, Kenha and Kerra, and the Kenya Forest Service among others.
“The President directed the Ministry of Interior to coordinate this exercise by making sure we do the mobilization and marshaling of Kenyans through the structure of National government administrative officers. I have already made communication to all the county commissioners across the 14 counties who are expected to cascade this directive all the way to the sub-location,” said Maalim.
According to the commissioner, chiefs in all the 1159 locations are expected to plant a minimum of 3000 trees per month to ensure that the target is achieved as directed by the president.
Calling for togetherness in the act of reclaiming back pride in the environment as everyone takes part in the initiative, involving targeted tree-planting exercises by school-going children which will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
“If we utilize the available student population of around 5 million in two seasons we will have planted more than 10 million trees. We will collaborate with the Ministry of Education to make sure this is done,” added the commissioner.
