CS Njeru, PS Korir lead Lands staff in tree planting exercise

The Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Zachariah Njeru and Principal Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Generali Nixon Korir on Friday led staff of the Department of Lands and Physical Planning in an exercise to plant trees in Ngong Forest.

More than 500 seedlings were planted in the exercise, which is the beginning of a series of similar exercises through which the State Department of Lands and Physical Planning intends to plant as many trees as possible.

The CS has already directed department' County Coordinators to lead similar exercises in their stations.

Speaking during the event, CS Njeru said the exercise is in furtherance of President William Ruto's National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign directive that aims to plant 15 billion trees in Kenya by 2032 to combat the effects of climate change.

The CS encouraged all other Government agencies to continue contributing to the goal of increasing Kenya's forest cover.

The CS said Kenyans should make tree planting part of their normal life and also use it to mark special occasions like birthdays.

"We all know the significant role that trees play especially on Climate Change. This exercise of planting trees today will help the future generation to live in a conducive environment," said CS Njeru.

PS Korir said the department intends to make tree planting a regular event and this would enable it to surpass its targets.

"It is our responsibility both in our official and individual capacity to aspire to plant as many trees as we can in our lifetime. It is a responsibility that we have as humanity to ensure that we increase the green cover that we have in this country," said the PS.

"I am happy that with this speed, we are going to surpass the target that we were given by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry of planting 8000 trees," Korir added.

The PS thanked the Kenya Forest Service for the support in making the tree-planting exercise successful.

In today's event, the State Department planted over 500 indigenous trees including Ficus Natelesis (Fig tree), Markamia Lutea(muu), Warbugia Ugandensis(African Evergreen tree), Podo Tree, Silver oak and other species.

The tree planting initiative also aims at reducing house emissions, stopping and reversing deforestation and restoring 5.1 Million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes through the African Landscape Restoration Initiative which was launched on 22nd December 2022.