[PHOTOS] CS Tuya leads tree planting initiative in Machakos

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has termed climate change as a direct threat to Kenya's environment, economic and national security.

Speaking during a tree-growing project at Machakos County on Wednesday, Tuya called for concerted efforts to contain the phenomenon through tree growing.

"It is an honour to join you today as we advance our shared mission in the battle against climate change - an invisible adversary that continues to threaten our environment, economy, and national security," Tuya said. 

Tuya led her Ministry staff in planting 15,000 trees at a site reserved for the Kenya Air Force (KAF) within Konza Technopolis.

So far, KAF has planted 35,000 trees on the 17-acre parcel of land.

She confirmed her ministry was assigned a target of propagating 800 million seedlings and growing 500 million trees as its contribution to the 10-year 15 billion national tree-growing initiative.

"Under the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Campaign, championed by our Commander-in-Chief, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been entrusted with producing 800 million tree seedlings over the next decade. Our specific mandate is to grow 500 million trees, contributing approximately three per cent of the national target," Tuya said.

Across the country, MOD has planted over 60 million trees since the onset of the tree-growing initiative, a flagship climate action and livelihoods programme of President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration.

Furthermore, she noted that the initiative needed a 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach' to succeed.

She acknowledged the support her Ministry continues to receive from partners, including the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), as it accelerates tree-growing activities across the country.

At the same time, she urged Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing long rains season to accelerate tree-growing activities across the country.

Other officials present at the event included the Commander Kenya Air Force, Major General Fatuma Ahmed and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Konza Technopolis, Paul Okwiri.