The government has affirmed its commitment to increasing forest cover in the country by growing 15 billion trees within 10 years.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, (CS) Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development Justin Muturi, his Ministry is on track to contribute to the national target by planting and growing at least ten thousand trees seedlings in Kisumu, Siaya and Bungoma Counties each month.
Speaking during a tree planting ceremony at Got Abiero forest in Siaya County, Muturi said tree planting at the gazetted forest will not only benefit the local communities but also people beyond because it is a source of a number of rivers in the region.
“Today we are here to fulfill our commitment as the ministry of public service and human capital development of planting and growing trees in Siaya, Kisumu and Bungoma counties.
November is the turn of Siaya County and that is why we are in Got Abiero which has been gazetted because of its usefulness not only to the local community but also to the people beyond because there are rivers which originate from this forest,” Muturi stated.
The CS commended the contributions by all actors including the local community, civil organisations, faith-based organisation and the administration in ensuring that 15 billion trees are planted by the government in the next ten years.
He on the other hand instructed the National Youth Services to work closely with the Kenya Forest Services to ensure that the government’s effort do not go to waste by ensuring that trees planted at the gazetted forests are protected.
“I instruct the National Youth Services college based in Kisumu to work with KFS to ensure that they pay monthly visits to the forest to ensure that our efforts of growing trees at Got Abiero do not go to waste,” said Muturi.
The CS was flanked by Siaya County Commissioners Norbert Komora who observed that the forest cover in Siaya County is still low although there are deliberate stakeholder efforts taken to improve the forest cover.
Komora disclosed that Siaya County has a target of planting 16 million trees annually for the next 10 years adding that Siaya County does not have an excuse of not achieving the targets because it has adequate rainfall besides benefiting from free tree seedlings from the government.
“I urge members of the public to take advantage of the government’s goodwill and plant trees in schools, homesteads and any open spaces. Let us all do what is expected of us,” Komora said.
The County Commissioner said that his office is working closely with the office of the governor of Siaya County to ensure that the targets are achieved as part of the national targets aimed at improving the national forest cover.
Siaya County CECM for Water and Environment Prof Jacklyne Oduol affirmed the commitment of the county through the leadership of governor James Orengo to promote tree planting efforts in the county.
Prof Oduol said the County government has embraced strategic partnerships and is collaborating with the national government to boost the region’s forest cover.
“We are not only talking to the people to plant trees in homesteads, schools, churches and open spaces but it is a policy of Siaya county government to plant trees in any event we attend even if they are not tree planting occasions,” Oduol said.
She revealed that the County government is in the process of gazetting the remaining 15 hill tops in the county to boost forest cover and for protection of the trees grown.
Siaya county conservator William Ojijo said the Kenya Forest Services is determined to rehabilitate the 62.5 ha of Got Abiero by returning its lost glory.
By Brian Ondeng’
