Counties kick off tree planting ahead of Monday’s nationwide drive

It is all systems go ahead of Monday’s national tree planting holiday as preparations across the country enter the penultimate stage.

Acting CEO of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) Dr Jane Njuguna says the government has 18 seed centres across the country, where Kenyans can obtain sets for planting.

Dr Njuguna says the Jaza Miti Application will help keep track of the number of trees grown, as well as guide users on the tree species to grow in their respective areas.

Tree planting has already kicked off in various parts of the country, with Kisii County Commissioner Tom Anjere leading Kisii residents in tree planting at one of the tree planting sites in the county.

Anjere says the county has over 100,000 seedlings ready for planting and will divide the seeds among the ten sub-counties in Kisii, where similar exercises will take place. 

In Garissa County, the Regional Commissioner John Otieno led officers in a tree planting exercise at AP camp ahead of the main exercise tomorrow that will be officiated by Interior Security CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki.

Over 3,000 seedlings have already been planted at various areas within the town including at the Garissa military camp, State Lodge and police quarters.

“We have been able to mobilise 110,000 seedlings. The county celebrations will be held at the Ntharia hills in Kisii south, and the rest of the celebrations at the sub-county headquarters. I want to ask all residents to come in large numbers to work with the government in an effort to address the challenge of climate change,” Tom Anjere, the Kisii County commissioner said.

John Otieno, the Regional Commissioner added, “We started yesterday, as a precursor of what will happen on Monday. We have prepared Garissa University we have enough space for tree planting. Please come so we can put our hands together in achieving the target of 15,00o for this country.”

The government aims to plant half a billion trees in this short rains season and another one billion trees in the long rains, to achieve a target of 1.5 billion trees in a year and 15 billion trees in the next 10 years, as part of the broader programme aimed at combating deforestation and increase the country’s tree cover to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.