The Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi will on Saturday launch Maragoli Hills Reforestation Marathon.
The launch according to a statement from his office will take place at Inyanza Primary School in Vihiga constituency.
The marathon is part of a nationwide effort to increase Kenya’s tree cover by planting 15 billion new trees with the goal of achieving a 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.
“This initiative aims towards contributing to the global fight against climate change. To reach the target, at least 1.5 billion trees need to be planted every year,” the statement said.
“The Prime CS has actively been involved in promoting tree planting and has already led similar initiatives in arrears such as Mt Elgon, Kakamega Forest and Egerton University,” it added.
Currently, Kenya’s tree cover stands at 12.13 per cent, still a long way from the 30 per cent target by 2032.
Mudavadi has previously been on record calling on Kenyans to stand united against the threat of climate change in light of its potential to disrupt ecosystems.
He has further urged Kenyans to advocate for the adoption of mitigating measures that emphasise safeguarding the environment, securing livelihoods and ensuring prosperity for future generations.
"We have all witnessed the viciousness with which climate change has unleashed various calamities on humanity," Mudavadi said.
"We are all affected by the effects of droughts, flooding, unpredictable rainfall patterns thus hampering the provision of water and basic sanitation by the utilities,” he said.
The Prime CS highlighted the gravity of the situation in Kenya, underscoring the need for immediate and coordinated action.
This comes even as President William Ruto said the government will evict all encroachers who have invaded the Mau Forest.
Ruto said that they will not allow individuals to destroy the leading water tower at the expense of many people who depend on it.
Ruto said that if the issue is left unchecked, it will affect the livelihood of many people downstream who depend on the forest.
"We must protect all the 10 water towers to fight climate change and other environment-related challenges," Ruto said.
"The government would plant and regenerate trees in the forest to restore the degraded resources."
He asked the security agencies to put measures and evict the illegal settlers currently occupying the forest but they must do so in a humane manner.
The President also revealed that the evictees removed from the forest will get alternative land.
Ruto also said as part of protecting all the forests, the government will soon employ more Kenya Forest Service personnel to assist in forest surveillance.
