More than 14 million trees were planted across the country on May 10, 2024, the day the government gazetted as the National Tree Growing Day.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura noted that the highest numbers of trees were planted in Machakos County at 6,075,129 and Nairobi County at 5,131,992.
“There is still a need for more trees and the government is urging all Kenyans, to plant additional trees within their homes, neighbourhoods and institutions,” he urged.
Mwaura noted that Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Felix Koskei, will officiate a tree planting exercise in Nairobi County on May 24, 2024.
The government had set an ambitious target of planting one billion trees May 10, according to Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.
The government had hoped every adult would plant at least 50 seedlings on the day, and 10 for every child.
To demonstrate the government’s frontline role in the 15 Billion National Tree Growing Programme, each Cabinet Secretary was assigned specific sites as per Cabinet directive.
On Thursday, Mwaura said the government is committed to accelerating the achievement of 30 per cent tree cover by 2032 since trees and forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change.
“To reach this goal, the government has developed a National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, to restore the 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes and ecosystems by 2032,” he noted.
He added that the exercise, which brought together Kenyans of all walks of life including representatives from the government and the private sector, was a testament to the country’s collective commitment to restoring our trees and forest cover.
He made the remarks in Nakuru County, where he is on a weeklong tour accompanied by officials from the national government.
The team has thus far, visited the Itare Dam project and the Affordable Housing site in Bahati Constituency.
They have also interacted with pyrethrum farmers in Njoro, visited the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PCCK) and held a public baraza to listen to concerns and messages from the residents of Nakuru County and its environs.
