Gov’t says Kenya has planted 2 billion trees towards 15 billion target

President William Ruto has renewed his push for a 15 billion tree growing and restoration campaign target set for 2030.

Speaking in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County, where he led the national Mazingira Day commemoration, Ruto talked up his ambitious programme aimed at combating climate change.

This as Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa claimed that the country has planted more than 2 billion trees since the onset of the programme.

President Ruto affirmed his commitment to the initiative that he says will help the country navigate the global climate challenges.

“Na ndio tumeweka hiyo mpango ya 15 billion trees, ndio tuhakikishe ya kwamba taifa letu lisiangamie kwa sababu ya mambo ya climate change, na tuhakikishe ya kwamba tunazidi kupata mvua ndio tuendelee kulima, tuendelee kuzalisha chakula na tuendelee kuzalisha uchumi wa taifa letu la Kenya,” he said.

CS Barasa added: “Tunaendelea na upanzi wa miti, we have surpassed our 2 billion and now we're moving towards achieving our 15 billion in the country.”

President Ruto also took the opportunity to launch cocoa farming as a cash crop in the country, urging farmers in areas mapped out for the cash crop to take advantage of the new venture.

“Leo tunaanzisha ile cocoa value chain. Mmea wa cocoa, ambayo inapandwa sehemu zingine za bara la Africa, haijawahi kupandwa hapa Kenya kama cash crop, na 2024 tuli gazette kama serikali ya Kenya kwamba cocoa sasa itakuwa a scheduled cash crop in the Republic of Kenya,” said the Head of State.

Senior government officials also led the exercise across the country, with Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo taking the campaign to Londiani Forest in Kericho and Lambwe Forest in Homa Bay County, respectively.

Agriculture PS Dr. Paul Rono said his ministry would plant 30% of the targeted 15 billion trees as he led the exercise along Ngong Road in Nairobi.

“Today we had a national challenge, we needed to plant 300,000 trees in one hour, we need to plant 14 billion trees in the next ten years” said CS Chirchir.

PS Omollo noted: “Tulianza ile ya mpango ya kuhakikisha ikifika 2030, tutakuwa tumepanda miti zaidi ya bilioni 15, kufikia sasa ndio tumepitisha bilioni mbili, so tuko around 14-15% of our target.”

President Ruto also launched the aerial-seeding initiative for inaccessible areas. This comes amid global warming effects, as they continue to be felt in the country.