Kura launches urban roads greening project

Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has embarked on a tree-planting campaign that targets the greening of urban roads.

Planting of trees by the roadside initiative will not only enhance the beauty of the streets but will also provide shade, reduce air pollution and improve the overall quality of life of urban residents.

By creating green spaces, the authority hopes to use the campaign to mitigate carbon dioxide from vehicles using urban roads.

The project which was launched in Nairobi on Monday will be rolled-out in other county headquarters across the country in the coming weeks according to the agency’s Director General Engineer Silas Kinoti.

"We aim at having a countrywide programme running in full swing in the coming days," he said.

The director observed that as the global demand for climate-resilient infrastructure rises, there is a need to respond to environmental concerns in urban areas and rising pollution.

" Kenya Urban Roads Authority has put in place deliberate interventions to address these challenges through the greening of urban road corridors," he said.

Engineer Kinoti disclosed that the Authority is implementing a collaborative program with strategic partners to plant and maintain a total of 15,000 trees in the Nairobi Metropolis.

" So far, over 7, 000 trees have been planted along Likoni Road in Industrial Area, Ngong Road, Upperhill Roads in Upperhill, Waiyaki Redhill Road in Kitisuru, Ushirika Road in Karen," he said.

"Other areas will be addressed in the coming days. Some of the targeted areas include Lower Kabete Road, Lang’ata Link Road and the Eastern Bypass," he said.

According to the DG, the program encompasses a sustainability component with a partnership with the Kenya Forest Service to maintain the trees for a period of three years.

This he noted is meant to increase the survival rate and guarantee that the objective of more green spaces in urban areas and climate-resilient infrastructure is achieved.

"Further to this, the tree growing exercise on our road reserves provides carbon sinks for our environment to mitigate pollution caused by motorized traffic emissions and other pollutants," he said.

Engineer Kinoti revealed that the road sub-sector emissions in Kenya amount to 12.09 Metric tonnes of Carbon dioxide.

This, he noted, was an increase of about 3.6 million tonnes from 2010.

"Every tree that we plant today enhances the Authority’s commitment to delivering Climate Resilient Infrastructure that responds to climate change and the changing climatic conditions and enhances livability in our urban spaces," he said.

The trees, according to KURA, will also improve road network ambience, increase the life of the urban road network and protect the road reserves.

They will also help in calming traffic in urban environments and prevent soil erosion.

The tree-growing program is aligned with the government's transformative agenda to conserve the environment and landscape restoration by planting 15 billion Trees by 2032.

"Kenya Urban Roads Authority is calling on more partners to join efforts to restore our tree cover by supporting and nurturing our urban forests," he said.

According to the director general, the Authority welcomes communities and all Kenyans of goodwill in this initiative to improve the livability of the urban spaces.

Kinoti further pointed out that the tree-growing exercise is also a platform for stakeholder engagement.

"The tree planting exercises, beyond fulfilling the environmental milestones, also provide a platform to engage and interact with the agency’s stakeholders," he added.

He said that urban roads exist within communities and serve to enhance urban mobility for the communities that they serve.

"At KURA, all our responsibilities are about community. By coming together as one community and planting trees, we are going beyond tree planting. We are strengthening our bond with each other and with our environment," he said.

KURA, he noted, was demonstrating its commitment to the well-being of the planet and fellow human beings through the tree-planting campaign.