Kenya prisons to provide 2.1m tree seedlings for forest restoration

The Kenya Prisons Service is planning to provide 2.1 million tree seedlings for planting.

Kenya Prisons Service Commissioner General Retired Brigadier John Warioba said that it is in support of President William Ruto’s 15 billion tree restoration programme.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Warioba said they will make the seedlings available to players supporting the cause in phase one.

He said the Prisons Service will be offering outsourced services to partners and stakeholders in the tree restoration programme.

“The Officers in Charge and farm managers of our penal institutions who are the subject matter experts have developed programmes that have given inmates skills to engage in tree restoration programmes," he said.

Inmates and honourably discharged offenders, Warioba said, appreciate the impact of climate change and are ready to support the 15 billion trees restoration programme.

He said the Service has realigned its human and financial resources to strengthen its seedling production capacity.

"We have the infrastructure to supply tree seedlings and support tree restoration programmes across Kenya," he added.

Warioba welcomed partners and stakeholder engagement for the purpose of the restoration.

“Partners and stakeholders can work with inmates or honourably discharged offenders under the Kenya Prison Service supervision to meet their strategic objectives around conserving, restoring, and growing trees," he said.

Warioba said the Service’s tree seedlings have been developed to suit Kenya’s different ecological and environmental patterns.